Posted by Rikki MacCuish at May 07, 2014 03:55 PM Permalink Filed under: British Columbia, karst
Did you know that karst water systems play a vital role in the health of plant and animal species and serve as a primary source of fresh water for one quarter of our global population?
Did you know that karst water systems play a vital role in the health of plant and animal species and serve as a primary source of fresh water for one quarter of our global population? Those residing in the Alberni Valley rely on karst for their drinking water supply. In Europe, the increased levels of magnesium and calcium found in karst waters are believed to benefit human health. I could use a tall glass of karst water right about now, how about you?
Karst is a landscape created by the dissolution of limestone and other soluble bedrocks. Slightly acidic rainwater carves the limestone into a water transport system. The water rushes downwards through channels and pools into a karst aquifer, a body of soluble bedrock beneath the surface. The water is then transported from the aquifer to a karst spring found at the end of the karst water system.
As there are virtually no filtration processes between surface waters and subterranean waters in karst environments, karst aquifers and springs are extremely vulnerable to pollution. Often, because of the complexity of subterranean channels, it is difficult to determine how quickly and where the water will re-emerge on the ground surface.
To learn more about karst water systems, researchers employ dye tracer tests. This testing is imperative to avoid devastating accidents such as the Walkerton tragedy of 2000. Seven people died and 2,300 people fell sick after their drinking water was contaminated with E.coli, caused by cow manure runoff into the water supply. It was believed that by the time the water reached the residents? wells, it would be purified by natural seepage through the soil. However, the water travelled rapidly through a karst water system, receiving no purification.
British Columbians are passionate about water issues. A poll conducted by McAllister Opinion Research found that 90 per cent of British Columbians consider water the province?s most precious resource. In order to protect the karst water supply of residents in the Alberni Valley, karst water systems need to be protected under B.C. legislation.
Unfortunately, the proposed Water Sustainability Act neglects to include the protection of karst or include karst topography in its diagrams of groundwater. Individuals such as Port Alberni resident, Reid Robinson, have voiced their outrage that karst is not included in the Water Sustainability Act. His letter to the Minister of Environment, Mary Polak, can be found here. At the recent April 3rd Legislative Assembly in Victoria, B.C., Port Alberni MLA, Scott Fraser, raised the issue that karst is not included in the Water Sustainability Act.Find this debate at Debates of the Legislative Assembly.
According to Reid Robinson, Cherry Creek had their first boil water order in 30 years after Island Timberwest logged near their karst water supply.
Rampant water issues are outlined in the lengthy Alberni Valley Drinking Water Reference Guide, which reports that long time residents of the Alberni – Clayoquot Regional Districts, Beaver and Sproat Lake, have experienced grievances such as increased turbidity, water discoloration, silt and sand in the water supply, a decreased amount of water in wells, the taste and smell of sulfur in the water, higher salt content and changes in the recharge rates of their wells.
To learn more about how the protection of karst is essential to ensure those in the Alberni Valley have access to clean drinking water, please read the Alberni Valley Drinking Water Reference Guide.
Clean and safe water should be a fundamental right in our province. If you believe that karst water systems should be included in the Water Sustainability Act, contact Environment Minister Mary Polak at ENV.Minister,,,gov.bc.ca or 250 387-1187.
Here?s how you can get involved in protecting our precious water resources:
Learn about your water! Attend the Water Forums, held by the Vancouver Island Water Watch Coalition in Courtenay BC, May 23 – 24th. (www,vancouverislandwaterwatchcoalition.ca)
http://www.sierraclub.bc.ca/blog/can-i-get-a-karst-on-the-rocks
