The future of a Spallumcheen water source is generating interest at the regional table.
On Thursday, the Regional District of North Okanagan’s regional agricultural advisory committee discussed the Hullcar aquifers and Vancouver media coverage about potential contamination by farm activities.
“The articles were reason enough to talk about it and get the straight goods,” said Dennis Lapierre, committee chairperson.
Among those at the meeting were representatives from the dairy industry and Spallumcheen.
“I came away with the feeling that something is being done by local government and the dairy industry,” said Lapierre.
“Some of the problem may be a result of changes in ministry (of environment) staff lately.”
Christine Fraser, a Spallumcheen councillor, insists the aquifers and public health are not being ignored.
“The township has asked various ministries to do deep soil testing and for there to be a moratorium on spraying (manure) for five years to see if there are any changes,” she said.
“There are lots of people working on trying to get it fixed. Everyone has a different opinion on what’s causing the contamination.”
The Steele Springs Water District has been under a water quality advisory from the Interior Health Authority since March 2014 because of nitrate levels in the water.
The regional agricultural advisory committee has also been provided details on a proposed study of agricultural nutrients entering the Shuswap River drainage.
University students would monitor an area from Mara to Mabel lakes.
“They would double-check to see how much phosphates are going into the river and what could be done,” said director Herman Halvorson.
“If there are issues in certain areas of the river, I’m sure farmers will deal with it.”
The study is being proposed by the Shuswap Watershed Council.
“Excess nutrients cause algae blooms and degrade lake water quality, damaging important habitat for a wide range of species,” states the watershed council.
