Boil advisory lifted, feeds push for year-round access to wells

Published: September 30, 2010 4:00 PM
Updated: September 30, 2010 4:06 PM
Boil water advisories were supposed to be a thing of the past in Chemainus.

That’s apparently not the case, since one was issued Tuesday afternoon.

North Cowichan sent out the warning to Chemainus surface-water system users after one of seven water samples taken Sept. 27 tested positive for E. Coli bacterium.

The municipality had hoped these measures would not be required following completion of the Chemainus wells water project earlier this year.

However, since North Cowichan is only allowed to operate the groundwater system between Oct. 15 and June 15, boil-water advisories are still likely during heavy periods of rain — such as last weekend’s — when the well system is turned off.

“We are trying to prove a case for operating the wells year-round, so we’re required to do further testing to prove that (case), but right now, as it stands, we’re only permitted to operate between Oct. 15 and June 15,” John MacKay, North Cowichan’s director of engineering, confirmed.

MacKay said the surface water system will need two consecutive negative samples, each taken 24 hours apart, before the boil advisory is lifted. He expected that to happen during tests Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, which means the advisory was expected to last a period of two days.

“We think it (the low levels of E. Coli) is a very low risk but in discussions with the Ministry of Health we decided to do this as a precaution,” MacKay added.

The Halalt First Nation, meanwhile, is still opposing the well project in B.C Supreme Court.

Court hearings continue during 10 days in mid-November.

Halalt lawyer Bill Andrews, meanwhile, said he is aware North Cowichan hopes to operate the groundwater system year-round.

“Our position is summer (pumping) shouldn’t be pursued until the courts make a decision on the winter pumping,” he responded.

http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_central/ladysmithchronicle/news/104116194.html