There was a very good turnout for the 108 Mile Ranch Water System Upgrade public meeting at the 108 Mile Community Hall on Feb. 15.
The hall was packed, as around 175 residents showed up to hear the latest news about the drill tests and to have questions answered prior to the water system upgrade project referendum on whether to borrow $2 million to complete the project.
CRD Area G Director Al Richmond noted upgrades are needed to address high concentrations of manganese with a new water treatment plant, and develop an alternative ground-water supply to help reduce lake level declines.
After new information came in, the CRD wants time because “more assessments are required before the alternative water supply (north aquifer) could be confidently developed.”
The new proposal is to construct a treatment plant in 2016 at the Sepa Lake pump house site, which is a cheaper option by $494,000, with an annual operating cost of $30,000-$40,000. Then by 2018, the CRD would develop an additional water source, potentially the north aquifer, after more assessments are completed.
All of the work would be done for the $2 million the CRD wants to borrow for the project.
CRD Environmental Services manager Mitch Minchau took the audience through a PowerPoint presentation detailing the need for manganese removal, current and historic lake water levels, water chlorination issues, existing wells’ water recovery, information on the north aquifer, user fees and taxation, and voting procedures.
Then he and a hydrogeologist, which the CRD hired to do the study on the 108 water system, started taking questions from the residents.
Some folks didn’t want to pay for the manganese removal through a new treatment plant and would rather have individual property owners look after the removal. After some back-and-forth discussion, Richmond explained the manganese level is a community-wide problem, which was applauded by at least three-quarters of the people in attendance.
There was quite a bit of discussion about the need for the north aquifer well and Richmond agreed more information was needed to make sure a large well there wouldn’t have a negative affect on lake levels.
There were concerns about the fees and taxation levels being higher than they were shown on the charts and the potential for them going up. Richmond explained they were worst-case scenarios based on the borrowing of $2 million to complete the project.
Some members of the audience voiced concerns about not being able to vote because they weren’t Canadian citizens even though they pay taxes on property(s) they own.
Richmond said the CRD cannot do anything about that, as the rules are set by senior levels of government.
Chlorination was another issue that was hotly debated by some members of the audience, but Richmond said the rules are set down by Interior Health (IH), which wants water systems chlorinated.
He told everyone that IH has been invited to a meeting at the community hall to discuss the issue and that is the time people should be showing up to voice their concerns.
The atmosphere in the hall was that most of the people present were in favour of going forward with the project.
People wanting more information regarding the 108 Mile Water System assent vote can go to the CRD website at cariboord.ca, on Facebook at facebook.com/CaribooRegion, or by calling the CRD chief or deputy chief election officers at 250-392-3351 or 1-800-665-1636.
The first advance poll was held at South Cariboo Recreation Centre in 100 Mile House on Feb. 17, and the next one is at the 108 Mile Community Hall on Feb. 22.
The general voting day poll will be held at the 108 Mile Community Hall on Feb. 27.
Advance polling stations and general voting day polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
