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Hi folks,
I know there is a lot going on in Gibsons and on the Coast right now but, I hope you will take the time to read this email send it around and chat with others about this issue.
We all got a pamphlet in the mail warning property owners, tenants and renters to Vote No Now to the Town of Gibsons loan application for money to install cross-connection control valves and WATER METERS on residential homes and now of course it is front page news in the Coast Reporter.
People have been calling me up asking what is the scoop with this issue, so after reading this pamphlet and hearing from concerned neighbours I felt compelled to do some research and start a community dialogue about this issue.
The expensive pamphlet from the "Rate Payers Association" delivered to every household in Gibsons felt a lot like propaganda to me, I hate to say it. The response I have heard from some of my neighbours is fear and mistrust for our local government.
I hope people who have questions or concerns will seek honest answers and that anyone who has filled out the form attached to the VOTE NO pamphlet and submitted it to the Town of Gibsons without being absolutely sure about this issue, will read the following information and or talk to the staff at the Town of Gibsons.
Get informed
ToG website Gibsons Water Town Hall ph # 604-886-2274.
AQUIFER
Gibsons water source is an artesian well. We do not know it's origin or it's absolute capacity. We cannot assume this is an unlimited resource.
Statistics
2007 Municipal Water Use Report Municipal Water Use, 2004 Statistics Ministry of Environment Canada Website. http://www.ec.gc.ca/WATER/images/info/pubs/sss/mun04/Chart-2.gif...
"all surveys since at least 1991 indicate that... metering and volume-based pricing can be valuable demand-management tools for promoting the responsible use of water resources".
"For all of Canada, flat-rate users consumed 70% more water (457 litres/person/ day) than metered users (269 litres/person/day). "
Current Town of Gibsons water usage
In July 2007, the ToG used 10 million cubic metres of water.
In July 2008, the ToG used 22 million cubic metres of water.
Records show that the water is not going to the sewage treatment plant as quantities received there have not increased, meanwhile use has more than doubled.
WASTE
Delcan, the company who runs our water system reports an average 30%-60% loss of water from the system at all times. In other words, there are leaks in the system.
The town currently has no way of determining where these leaks are.
Water reclamation
Through water metering the ToG will be able to detect high volume usage areas... and determine where to look for leaks in the system. If your home is identified as a really high usage meter, it is possible that you have a leak in your system. If the leaks are in the Towns system, they will fix them at no cost to you personally.
Up to 60% loss! People around the world live in constant drought and we in "water rich" parts of the world cry about metering as 60% of the cleanest water in the world disappears down the cracks.
Rain water storage
According to Town staff, the ToG has explored rainwater storage options and do not consider this a physically or financially viable option right now. I was told by staff that a reservoir that holds 20 hours worth of water to supply the ToG would cost the us 1.3 million dollars and a reservoir to hold a weeks supply of water would cost $30 million and it would be as big as a soccer field. We also need to consider what will happen as the Town grows and storage needs along with it?
In my opinion, rain water storage is a great idea for toilet flushing and irrigation etc and it is definitely an avenue to be explored for water conservation. Let's bring this forward to council too. However, to ask the Town of Gibsons to forget water metering in favour of a multi million dollar rainwater collection project somewhere in the distant future is unrealistic if we want to deal with this issue now.
Storing drinking water has other issues attached... like off gassing etc from storage materials and airborne contamination. http://www.i4at.org/surv/raincat.htm
What about THE MONEY?
Why do we have to pay for this and how much are you asking us to pay ?
BC Water Act
Under the BC Water Act, the Town of Gibsons is required to implement precautionary measures to protect drinking water systems from contamination. To avoid things like Walkerton.
Don't forget last year in Chapman Creek... it is the LOCAL Governments responsibility to provide clean water to their residents, yet they are bound by the interminable bureaucracy of the BC Government. It sucks, yep. For me, regardless of what the BC Government wants, the bottom line is that it is wise to protect our most valuable resource.
Gibsons options for ensuring no contamination of the water supply are
1. chlorinate the water supply
2. install cross-connection control valves.
The Town of Gibsons chose not to chlorinate our drinking water supply.
So, the ToG will install the cross-connection control valves, and install waters meters at the same time. The Town made the choice to install meters at the same time because it is cheaper to do them both at once, than to install the meters later. The ToG will receive a BC government grant of $460,000 toward the meters.
Expense
The Town will borrow $1.4 million to install the cross-connection control valves and meters on residential homes and will require commercial and institutional businesses owners to do the same.
TAXES
Once metering is implemented, our annual property taxes will go up in the first year from $300 to (most likely) $365/year. Council has committed to the ToG having the cheapest water on the Coast and the SCRD tax is $375/year, so $365 is the likely number.
Rates
After the first year, the ToG will be able to determine average household use, ( based on the metering ) and use this average to form the base amount of water allowed to be used per household before they are charged more. So, if you use less than the average, you pay less. If you use the average, you pay the base amount. If you use more than the average, you pay more.
Vote?
One little thing about calling for a referendum in the name of fiscal responsibility as suggested on the pamphlet, is that referendums cost tax payers money too.
MY choice
I see metering as a comparatively inexpensive and immediate way to begin to deal with mass water consumption issues. Instead of looking at it as if we are being punished, I look at it like ME and YOU, here and now, are being asked to be responsible global citizens AND to decide for ourselves how much we want to pay... based on how much we want to use of this amazing luxury we call 'the best water in the world'. I am willing to pay taxes for roads and library's and neighbourhood planning processes and more than anything, fresh clean water delivered to my tap. Fresh water is NOT and inexhaustible resource for humanity and we need to DO something about conservation, NOW. I trust this Council and I appreciate their efforts to conserve our water on this scale.
Your choice
If you still think water metering is a bad idea, let's get together and try to come up with some viable solutions to bring to our council and community.
Advocating community participation & informed decision making.
Thanks for caring!
:) Suzanne Senger
ps.
Environmental Trends 2002
Surface Water Use
Effect of Metering on Per Capita Domestic Water Use for 1999
SOURCE: Environment Canada Municipal Water Use Database (MUD) 2001. NOTES: This graph shows the average volume of water consumed by the population with water meters (price by volume) versus the volume of water consumed by the population that pays a flat rate for water use (unmetered).
Effect of metering on water use
- In 1999, total domestic water use by British Columbians that pay a flat rate (76% of the province) was 524 litres/person. This was 15% more water per day than was used by those who paid based on volume (455 litres/person).
- For all of Canada, flat-rate users consumed 70% more water (457 litres/person/ day) than metered users (269 litres/person/day).
- The minimal impact of water metering in British Columbia compared to the rest of Canada may be due to metered rates being among the lowest in the country.
- Canadian water prices are among the world’s lowest, averaging about half the prices in most developed countries.
Previous News
Stand up for your water! The quality of our water on the Sunshine Coast is being effected as you read this!
Before
(click on image to see larger view)
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After these trees were cut down in our watershed!
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Aug 2nd
There will be a protest at the SCRD office on Field Rd at 11:30 am on
Thur Aug. 2nd, for one hour calling for an immediate stop work order
for Western Forest Products. There is not a meeting that day and very
few meetings in Aug. but if we go there and demand this stop work order
with placards etc. it will be registered by the SCRD and we may even
catch the odd director in their office, or on their way to lunch. The
protest can resume at Field and the Hgwy later if there is interest. It
would be great to get as many people as possible out to this, with very
clear wording on posters! Hope everyone can make this.
It is a critical time and the stop work order needs to be issued now
before any more directors go on holiday and before anybody gets hurt
protesting in the watershed, and issued as soon as possible to stop
anymore trees coming down.
Please continue to write and demand this from your regional director,
If they are overwhelmed with letters, emails and calls at this time,
they might get the message. There is also some question about Ed
Steeves and whether he has a conflict of interest in this matter, and
whether he is delaying the process.
See you there,
Regards
Concerned Citizens of the Sunshine Coast
Come and join your fellow citizens in a protest against
Western Forest Products this coming Saturday, between 11:00am and 1:00pm at the Chapman Creek bridge on Highway 101. That is located next to Davis Bay beach.
- Make signs - Save our watershed for example.
See you there, please encourage everyone that you know to also come and spread the word to their circle of residents.
We really need a strong, strong showing of public outcry to what is now taking place in our watershed.
Regards
Concerned Citizens of the Sunshine Coast
Again this is Urgent! Tell all your friends. Please forward this email to everyone you know who cares about the quality of our drinking water.
Visit www.yourwatershed.com
Regards
John Bebbington
Volunteer
Concerned Citizens of the Sunshine Coast
Citizens Take Action to Protect Safe Drinking Water
A "Health Hazard" complaint under the Health Act has been filed with Sunshine Coast Regional District and the Sechelt Indian Band. This complaint identifies Western Forest Products' road-building and logging activities as a health hazard.
To read the complaint click here.
A Backgrounder is also available that explains the specifics of the situation in much greater detail.
To read the Backgrounder click here.
You can take action too! Click here to see how you can help protect the public drinking watershed!
For more information and how you can make a difference visit SCCA website.
Current Logging Practices is a threat to our Watersheds
Joint Watershed Management Agreement signed Oct 1st,2005 by SIB and SCRD Governments
The joint management watershed agreement signed on Oct 1st,2005 was a very important milestone in the long history involving the community watershed.
This agreement sent a strong message on behalf of all Sunshine Coast Residents that the Sechelt Indian Band and the Sunshine Coast Regional District were jointly assuming the responsibility and authority for the attaining and maintaining of the highest possible safety and quality standards for their potable water supply.
This clear direction for the watershed agreement came from the combined voices of the residents of the Sunshine coast who want their drinking water protected from any more logging such has been done over the previous 30 years.
The current situation facing the community once again by the cut blocks proposed by Western Forest Products is something that both the SIB and SCRD governments cannot allow to happen.
The leadership in Victoria needs to hear the "voices" of the people and respect the wishes thereof. Our joint watershed management agreement needs to be respected by our Provincial leaders and also the SIB and SCRD need to stand firm on their commitment to this agreement in face of any threat to the quality and safety of our water supply.
John Bebbington
Send your concerns to SCRD.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO PROTECT our Watersheds
We want RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT ON THE SUNSHINE COAST
1.) Write letters or call your SCRD Representatives (Remember they are there for you!
Electoral Area Directors:
Area A - Egmont/ Pender Harbour John Rees 604-883-9033 john.rees@scrd.bc.ca
Area B - Halfmoon Bay Garry Nohr 604-741-7729 glnohr@dccnet.com
Area D - Roberts Creek - Donna Shugar (vice Chair) donna_shugar@hotmail.com
Area E - Elphinstone - Lorne Lewis 604-886-9472 lorne.lewis@scrd.bc.ca
Area F - West Howe Sound - Lee Turnbull 604-886-7666 leeturnbull@dccnet.com
Municipal Representatives
District of Sechelt - Ed Steeves (Chair)
ehsteeves@telus.net 604-885-2261 604-885-7501
Sechelt of First Nation Government - Stan Dixon
kahtou@dccnet.com 604-885-2273 604-885-2728
Town of Gibsons - Barry Janyk
bjanyk@gibsons.ca 604-886-2274 604-886-4713
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