Share to Feb 11, 2021 2:09 PM Pete McIntyre The City of Vernon says factors out of its control have resulted in having to discharge reclaimed waste water into Okanagan Lake again. The change in process is needed due to MacKay Reservoir, where most of the city’s reclaimed water is stored, is again nearing its maximum storage capacity elevation. The discharge into the lake will start this month, and the city is working with the province to determine when it will end. “Under the city’s operating certificate issued by the Ministry of Environment, the city is permitted to redirect the flow of treated reclaimed water from the Vernon Water Reclamation Centre (VWRC) directly to Okanagan Lake, via a deep lake outfall, when there are unforeseen circumstances that do not allow the city to draw down the water in MacKay Reservoir,” Christy Poirier, communications manager, said.