As a long time resident of Shawnigan Lake I have been watching the dedicated people taking their stand on water quality with regards to the contaminated soil dumping.
These people are on site day after day rain or shine trying to get government to listen that they don’t want this facility in their back yard jeopardizing our drinking water.
The contaminated soil is definitely an issue but there is a much larger issue that people of Shawnigan should be concerned with and that is the septic systems and runoff of lakefront and surrounding properties. If we look at the topography of Shawnigan everything runs toward the lake whether its contaminated soil or septic.
With Mount Baldy on the east side and minimal soil content at the base for water absorption we can’t accept the fact that none of this grey water is reaching the lake.
There are four islands that are solid rock with cabins and where does their septic go? The west side of the lake has many low lying properties and at this time of year water is up the front steps so where are their absorption fields?
I would encourage people of Shawnigan that when they are satisfied with government’s decision on the contaminated soil issue that they don’t stop there. Look in our own back yard people, we have a much bigger issue with non-conforming septic systems and sewage runoff into our drinking water than contaminated soil.
Your area director should be pushing the CVRD, and Ministries of Heath and Environment to do an inspection of every septic system to ensure they are up to an acceptable standard and not accepting a grandfather clause stating they were already in place.
Shawnigan Lake needs to be protected. It’s not only our drinking water its our recreational paradise as well.
Doug Prenevost
Shawnigan resident 40 years
