Jaffray Ground Water Quality Assessment
Jaffray, a small community in the East Kootenays, relies on ground water from the Jaffray aquifer for domestic use. The province has designated the aquifer as "IA", which means the aquifer is vulnerable to contamination from surface sources and has a high water demand, compared to availability.
A Ministry of Environment (MoE) study in 2003/04 found that the water quality of the Jaffray aquifer met almost all drinking water quality guidelines. However, the presence of bacteria in some samples confirmed the aquifer's vulnerability to contamination. Residents using the aquifer for drinking water should contact the Kootenay Health Protection office of the Interior Health Authority for advice about treating water so that it is safe to consume.
