A FIRST FOR BC: SAMPLING FOR VIRUSES IN COMMUNITY DRINKING WATER WELLS AT SEVEN FIRST NATION COMMUNITIES ACROSS BC'S SOUTHERN INTERIOR

Testing for viruses, giardia, cryptosporidium, campylobacter, and several wastewater indicators such as caffeine, optical brighteners (from laundry detergent), and cholesterol was completed at fifteen surface water and groundwater samples from seven first nation communities across the Southern Interior of BC including Okanagan, Similkameen, and Thompson Regions. The objective was to assess for the first time at First Nations communities in BC if viruses and other wastewater indicators were present at a range of water supply sources that would be considered to be “at-low risk” of containing pathogens (confined/deep wells) to “at-risk” sites (shallow, coarse, near septic tanks, surface water, or sanitary lines) following BC’s proposed Groundwater At Risk Of Containing Pathogens Guidance Document. Lessons learned from the sampling fieldwork will be presented.