Water, Sewer & Solid Waste Utilities

The District of Elkford operates a Class II water distribution system with a mandate to provide residents with clean, safe and potable drinking water. 

Water samples are taken on a biweekly basis. Testing of samples is carried out by a third-party lab and results are reported to Interior Health, and analytical sampling is completed yearly.

Water is supplied from a system of three wells and chlorinated at the source. Chlorine residuals are monitored at numerous locations throughout the community. Elkford has two water systems: one for the residential area and one for the Industrial Park.

*** Disclaimer: Bylaws are provided online for research and educational purposes only. The PDF documents are not official copies of our bylaws and these documents not admissible in a court of law. The District of Elkford will, in no event, be held liable or responsible for damages of any kind that arise from reference to, or use of, these bylaws online.  ***

Procedure For Water On/Off

If you require the water shut off or turned on at your residence, a request must be made at the District Office at 250.865.4000 or 744 Fording Drive. A fee is charged for this service, and it must be paid in advance. A minimum of 24 hours advance notice is required. 

As per District of Elkford Water Services Bylaw, the location and condition of the curb stop is the property owner’s responsibility. A copy of the lot service card, indicating the position of your curb stop, can be obtained from the District Office or Public Works Department.

Outdoor Water Usage

Residents are asked to comply with the District of Elkford Outdoor Water Conservation Bylaw which can be viewed here.

Frozen Water Service Policy

The Public Works Department does not assist with frozen waterlines on residential properties. Elkford has areas in which waterlines may freeze. Residents are asked to adhere to the timelines listed in the following policy:

Frozen Water Service Lines Policy

Annual Drinking Water Reports

Since 2002, the District of Elkford has worked with local health officials to achieve a water quality monitoring program, as is directed by Interior Health and mandated by the Drinking Water Protection Act, that exceeds the guidelines of drinking water regulations. The District continues with this monitoring program as part of its commitment to deliver a safe potable water supply to consumers, and we publish a report on our drinking water annually. Interested in reading the most recent reports? You can find them here.

Sewer

The District of Elkford operates a Class 1 sewer system. Everything flushed down your toilet, or poured down your drain, ends up in the sewer lagoons.

Sanitary Sewer and Storm Drainage Bylaw

Home Sewer Lines

What causes a sewer line blockage in your home? Many blockages are caused by coffee grounds, cooking grease or food being dumped down the kitchen sink. Additionally, you should never flush anything other than toilet paper or human waste down the toilet. Despite being labelled “flushable,” many sanitary wipes and products like “flushable” cat litter can quickly cause blockages in your home’s sewer lines.

If you experience a problem with the sewer line between your home and the sewer mains, the onus is on the property owner to clear the blockage. To assist with this process, we provide the public with a 100-foot sewer snake, available at Public Works or the Recreation Centre, to sign out at no-charge during regular business hours.

If you are unable to clear out the blockage on your own or with the assistance of a plumber, please notify Public Works at publicworks@elkford.ca or 250.865.4025.

Solid Waste

Elkford Transfer Station
The Elkford Transfer Station, located at 6 Inkaneep Road in Elkford’s Industrial Park, is owned and operated by the Regional District of East Kootenay. For more information, contact the Transfer Station directly at 1.250.489.2791 or environmentalservicesdept@rdek.bc.ca.

Recycling bins are provided at the Transfer Station. All residents are encouraged to take advantage of recycling opportunities to reduce tonnage at the dump. Please place your recyclables in the appropriate bins and keep the area tidy. Do not leave trash or recyclables outside of the bins.

Used oil, antifreeze, oil filters and empty oil and antifreeze containers can also be recycled at the Transfer Station. 

Residential Solid Waste

Residential solid waste is collected every Thursday from the curb (excluding Thursdays that are statutory holidays). All residential waste must be bagged and placed into a District-supplied, residential garbage container. Garbage containers must be placed by the curb and unclipped between the hours of 5 and 7 a.m. on collection days and remain at the curb until 3:30 p.m. (or until collected). 

Please ensure that your bin is not overfilled, and that bear-resistant bins are unclipped. Additionally, please ensure that your bin is placed by the curb with the wheels facing away from the street and is at least one metre (three feet) away from obstacles (e.g., powerline poles, vehicles, power boxes, snowbanks), otherwise your garbage may not be collected. 

During winter plowing operations, keeping your bin behind the snowbank line—as well as at least one metre (three feet) from obstacles—ensures that your roadway can be plowed to full width without your bin impeding the plow.

Types of refuse NOT accepted include:

• Recyclable material
• Highly combustible or explosive materials including but not limited to liquid or solid fuels, gunpowder, ammunition or explosives
• Compressed propane or butane cylinders, toxic or household hazardous waste including solvents, oven cleaners, paints, automotive fluids, wet cell batteries, pesticides, herbicides, or any material commonly referred to as household, commercial, or industrial hazardous waste
• Hot ashes
• Large amounts of excrement
• Any refuse not contained within a District supplied solid waste receptacle, unless by prior arrangement
• Discarded furniture
• Discarded automobile parts
• Tires
• Liquid wastes or sludge
• Private vehicles
• Household equipment and appliances
• Tree limbs, whole shrubs or bushes, portions of hedges
• Fences, gates, other permanent and semi-permanent fixtures on the premises
• Building waste
• Oil, fuel or other equipment lubricant
• Discarded heavy machinery
• Biproducts of manufacturing 
• Heavy or bulky wrapping, packaging or crating materials
• Yard waste

View the District of Elkford’s Solid Waste Removal and Disposal Bylaw

Commercial Solid Waste

Commercial waste is collected on Tuesdays and Fridays. Property owners are responsible for ensuring that garbage trucks can safely access the containers. Containers that are not accessible, or are situated in an unsafe manner, will not be collected. View the District of Elkford’s Solid Waste Removal and Disposal Bylaw

Compost

For your convenience, black compost bins are placed in several locations throughout the community in spring, summer and fall. These containers are designed for grass clippings and leaves only, and we require that you empty the clippings directly into the bin and never leave plastic or paper bags in the bins. 

Branches and other yard waste should be taken directly to the Transfer Station.

Garbage and Wildlife

Elkford is a wilderness community, and we make every effort to live in harmony with the wildlife around us. Garbage is a wildlife attractant and feeding wildlife, intentionally or unintentionally, is a bylaw violation in the District of Elkford and illegal in the Province of British Columbia.

A few important things to remember:

• Outside of pickup hours, garbage must be kept secured in bear-resistant garbage bin, secured inside an indoor structure (e.g., a garage) or in a wildlife-proof garbage enclosure
• Never place your garbage bin out the night before: garbage containers must be placed by the curb between the hours of 5 and 7 a.m. on collection days only and remain at the curb until 3:30 p.m. (or until collected)
• Regularly pick up rotting fruit/berries that fall from your trees to avoid attracting wildlife
• View the Animal Responsibility Bylaw and Solid Waste Removal and Disposal Bylaw for more information.

Each year, the District receives a shipment of bear-resistant garbage containers that are available at no-charge to community members (while supplies last) to replace your existing container. To request one, contact 250.865.4025 or publicworks@elkford.ca.