Myrtle Point pond system users are unhappy with a significant increase in water rates.
Richard Berry, a spokesperson for the residents, told Powell River Regional District rural services committee members the residents were significantly concerned about the increase, which was 30 per cent greater than the previous year.
“We were not given any notice or opportunity to discuss this with anyone,” Berry said. “I’m a pensioner and there are several of us here on fixed incomes. I think it’s unacceptable to have such an increase from one year to the next.”
Berry asked if these increases were going to happen every year. He regards water as an essential service.
“You can’t live without water and that is why we are concerned here,” he said. “If it was our Internet or television rates, we could do something about it. We can’t do anything about this.”
Berry said the residents were suddenly given water restrictions recently and were given no reason why. He said there is no significant increase in houses using the water system so the draw should not be that significant. If there are concerns about lack of water, the residents need to know.
One of the attractions for Berry building where he is located is because there was a good water system in place.
“All of a sudden now, we are saying what’s with the water?”
Linda Greenan, manager of financial services, said the regional district had not been charging enough to cover operating costs. The water rate increase allows the regional district to have enough money to cover the annual operating costs and then to use some of the parcel tax it collects to put money aside for future upgrades.
Berry said two of his neighbours are water systems experts and they are furious about the way the matter has been handled.
He asked if there was enough water available for the householders. He said the residents are nervous because there haven’t previously been restrictions and now there are.
Mike Wall, manager of community services, said through the recent upgrades, the engineering consultants stress-tested the wells to find out how much volume is there. The determination is there is enough water in the aquifer, in the two active wells, to handle the full build-out of the current residential boundary. The treatment plan was also built for that, he said.
Currently there are 61 connections and the full build-out design specification is 83.
Wall said the reason for the water restriction this year is because they are a common theme in all water systems for conservation. Berry said this is the first time the water system users have faced restrictions.
Wall said this year, the number two well was down for maintenance about three weeks. The operator was concerned and consumption doubled with the warm weather, so the regional district believed it was prudent to put out a restriction.
John Lefebvre, another resident, said the water rates in the Myrtle Pond system were exorbitant compared to water systems in other areas.
He said he thought that water is a utility, and asked if there had to be an application to the provincial government for an increase.
Al Radke, the regional district’s chief administrative officer, said systems in regional districts have to pay for themselves, so there is no provision for transferring funds from another regional function to subsidize the water systems.
Stan Gisborne, rural services committee chair and Electoral Area B director, told the Myrtle Point delegation that the matter would be referred to the next meeting and the committee will inform them of the decision.
Palmer said he thinks the residents have a genuine concern. He said he understands why the residents would be asking if they are going to be facing a 30 per cent increase every year.
“Let us work on it,” he said. “Let us see what we can predict.”
Gisborne said the committee would look at usage and bring it back to the next meeting.
