Developers and politicians are uniting against an Interior Health Authority policy they believe could hurt the economy.
The Urban Development Institute and the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee are expressing concern over the prospect of IHA notifying the public that water utilities don’t meet standards.
“Because IHA intends to declare publicly on their website that many water systems in the Okanagan Valley are simply inadequate, regardless of the fact that the water is safe to drink, the message that will be sent to the public and investors will be unnecessarily negative,” said Andrew Bruce, UDI Okanagan chairperson, in a letter to IHA.
UDI suggests potential home purchasers and financial institutions being asked to lend money for developments could be scared off by the perceived risk because water filtration is not available.
“Residents of the Okanagan have been drinking this water for a century or more and the number of boil water advisories or registered counts of water-borne illnesses is very small, less than many jurisdictions,” said Bruce.
“Some evidence also suggests that some unfiltered water systems have roughly the same number of boil water advisories as those with full filtration systems.”
Bruce also points out that communities can only proceed with costly filtration when provincial and federal grants are available.
“The delays in building all of these systems is a question less of local government and more of senior government infrastructure funding,” he said.
Bob Fleming, a GVAC director, is sympathetic towards the case being put forward by UDI.
“It (IHA policy) has a negative impact on everything they do. They don’t get (bank) funding for a development where the water system is deemed inadequate.”
Jim Garlick, Coldstream mayor, wants IHA to answer some questions.
“What does inadequate mean?” he said, adding that the term could have ramifications for communities trying to attract residents and professionals.
“It hurts doctors coming to the community and potential business.”
The possibility of IHA labelling water systems inadequate comes at the same time that Greater Vernon is holding a fall referendum to borrow $70 million for utility upgrades.
“They slap you as you do it,” said Garlick.
IHA insists its mandate includes making sure residents have access to safe and reliable water.
“We are exploring how to provide additional information on large water systems,” said Roger Parsonage, director of health protection.
Parsonage would not speak directly to speculation that additional publicity over water utilities could negatively impact the economy.
“We have offered to meet with UDI to address their concerns while meeting our obligations to ensure residents have accurate information,” he said.
It’s not known when expanded information may become available from IHA, and Parsonage disagrees with suggestions that such a program may not be necessary.
“We believe it’s important to provide the pubic with information on the health and safety risks associated with their water,” he said.
