Drinking water samples being tested; Home assessments continue

The City of Merritt is continuing to work towards allowing Merritt residents back into town. On Saturday, the City sent out samples of the drinking water for testing.

The City of Merritt’s water samples are being tested for Total Coliforms and E. Coli by membrane filtration, in accordance with the standard method established by the American Public Health Association (APHA).

A general overview of this method is as follows:

1. The homogenized sample is filtered using sterile procedures
2. The filter paper is placed onto an Agar plate
3. The Agar plate is then incubated for 24 hours
4. Once the incubation period is over, the plate is removed and, under a microscope, inspected and all colonies are counted
5. Results are entered in our database and the value is reviewed by a second analyst period to report the results.

This means that once the collected sample makes it to the laboratory, the laboratory requires at least 24 hours to process and report Total Coliform and E. Coli results for drinking water (potable water) samples. Prior to changing water status, the City must submit multiple samples from different places and at different times.

City officials are also still working to assess the damaged homes in town before possibly allowing residents to return.

volunteers spent Saturday, November 20th doing Rapid Damage Assessments of housing in the flood inundation area of the City of Merritt, and these assessments will continue on Sunday.

BC Housing provided Merritt with brand new online training and draft aerial drone assessment criteria. This has enabled the City of Merritt to more rapidly assess the safety of buildings that will allow our residents to return to their homes and businesses as soon as possible. This event is the first time that GEOBC’s Common Operating Picture has been deployed for Rapid Damage Assessment at such a large scale.

We want to extend a sincere and heartfelt thank you to the following organizations for their on-the-ground support in this pivotal process.

• City of Merritt Fire Department
• City of Merritt Building Inspection
• Kamloops Fire Rescue
• City of Kamloops
• BC Wildfire Service
• FLNRORD

The City is currently developing a plan to allow access to “Green” properties once these assessments are complete, and will provide information to owners of “Yellow” properties regarding further required steps. Those owners of “Red” properties will likely remain evacuated for an extended period.