Speaker

Discussion

Mary Cooper, President and Program Director,

MIIWSS

Excerpts from Introductory Remarks

Excerpts from opening remarks by Chair Mary Cooper

There are major changes in the agenda. The provincial government has cancelled all speaking engagements for staff due to the upcoming election. We would like to thank Pat Lapcevic , Ministry of Environment, and Tim Lambert, Ministry of Healthy Living and Sports for their offers to speak and they send their regrets.

Over our 5 years of workshops we have appreciated the financial support of our CRD Directors past and present. Ken Hancock has continued to stand behind our work as part of the island team and we are very grateful. The Local Trust Committees from Mayne, Galiano, North and South Pender, Saturna and Salt Spring Island “purchase” our workshop report every year. The quality of the final report produced here is the gold standard for all reports sent to the Trust if you expect to get a cheque. I would like to introduce Trustee Sandy Pottle from Galiano, Gary Steeves from North Pender, Trustee Wendy Scholefield from South Pender and our own Trustee Jeanine Dodds.

We certainly can't diminish the contribution every year from our the island people---Lions Club, Tru Value, Gulfport Realty, Remax Realty, Toby Snelgrove , billeters, and our exhibitors who all add to the success of our day.

We chose to come full circle this year with our programming, back to our roots of well planning, aquifer protection and conservation. Our first speaker, Carola Bloedorn of Dockside Green, places a world of options before us in how we develop our precious islands responsibly and sustainability. Sustainability is becoming such an overused word lately, yet its implications are far reaching, particularly on our islands.

In choosing a title for this year’s event, ”Our Islands - Our Water”, I did not intend it to create a warm and fuzzy feeling. It is intended as a challenge to all who come, issued by those who came before. It is a challenge that rightfully should have been issued to us by those who preceded us. We have a right to expect stewardship and we have a duty ourselves to be stewards.

When Carola's presentation is over, I am sure that we can, and should, set the bar higher for development. There certainly will be a lot to think about and a lot more questions to ask.

Excerpts from Afternoon Remarks

Excerpts from afternoon update on Integrated Water activities by Chair and Program Director, Mary Cooper:

I am delighted to be able to announce that Mayne Island has a new SWS operator, Bill Warning. Congratulations Bill. Even better than that, Bill has been accepted by BCWWA as an instructor.
Bill is offering his services as a director of MIIWSS at our AGM in June. What a great bonus for our Islands water scene!

This is the last in our series of five annual water workshops. But that does not mean we are not having workshops. We plan to move to an every second year format, with smaller 1 topic events in between. We will continue with our fall workshops for the operators and water systems, but, they also are absolutely open to everyone. We may hold one on pump repair or the bacterial character of wells, a topic valuable to every well owner.

One of the repercussions of this change will be a lack of general funding. 90% of our funds arrive because of the public nature of this workshop. We do not fund raise or sell items for profit. So every membership helps to keep us going.

We will be at the fall fair on Mayne, August 15, and this year we are planning to attend the Pender fair as well. We will continue to lobby where we feel the need, write our articles and be wherever we need to be to carry the message that water is finite and we need to promote better stewardship.

There is a display of some of our outreach projects through the library and the welcome basket for newcomers. We have also contributed books to the library on Saturna and Pender. We donated books on well drilling to Grades 3 and 4 at the Mayne Island and Saturna schools. Public education is one of our priority mandates.

We want to expand our website, and to that end, we need a keen someone within our ranks who can help. We are considering an in depth localized groundwater study and need a person who has expertise in writing grant applications.

Pender Island will have a new water awareness sign at their local mall this summer that matches our sign on Mayne.

It gives me great pleasure to say we now have 20 water systems within our fold covering 5 Southern Gulf Islands. We closed out 2008 with 175 single memberships, plus water societies on 4 islands.

Welcome to the newest addition, and the first from Galiano, Montague Harbour Improvement District. We also encompass 3 from Saturna, 3 from Pender, 3 from Salt Spring and the balance are from Mayne.

Hydrofracturing: I spoke with Bob Brown at the Ministry of Environment regarding the status of ‘fracing’ and the legislation. I am pleased to report that hydrofracturing is covered, in some manner, in Phase 2 of the new Groundwater legislation. Whether we are pleased with the extent of the coverage is another matter, but a base will have been established, and we can build on that if we are not satisfied. MIIWSS has made a difference!

Since the start of the Living Water Smart program, some changes in approach may be imminent in the re-writing and modernization within the Water Act, as opposed to what we expected would be Phase 3. The changes to the Groundwater Regulations have a goal for completion by 2012 -----if it stays on track.

I have heard, but cannot confirm, that 2 or 3 areas of the province may be singled out as areas for specific regulations, such as hydrofracturing protection, and the Gulf Islands would be one of them. I had hoped that this coverage would be province wide, but we will take what we can get and work from there.

Our AGM is Saturday June 6, at 1p.m. at the Community Center, and we have a speaker pertinent to all---our Fire Chief Jeff Francis, talking about dedicated tank storage, as well as fire standpipes vs. fire hydrants and the affect on home insurance. The water systems are all asked to give an update on the events and status of their systems and if single well owners have problems, the operators are the people with the handle on well maintenance.

There are new reporting requirements for the water systems from VIHA. Gary Gibson will address that issue, but you will read in the May Mayneliner that Integrated Water has made an offer to all systems to put the info on the website with their system info. This should assist with meeting the public reporting obligations.

In closing, I want to say a huge thank you to all who have supported the many activities of Integrated Water. Our growth over the past 5 years has been a straight up spiral.

But I want to personalize that as well, and thank all of you who have offered help or given me that boost during down times and disappointments, Ambitious agendas create failures, as well as successes. You have come through for me personally. Thank you so much.

Diane, our treasurer----my right and left hand---have we forgotten anything? Diane's reply: Donations are gratefully accepted.

Carola Bloedorn, Director of Development for Dockside Green Project, Victoria

Sustainable Communities

Dockside Green is a 15-acre mixed use development in Victoria, three years into a ten-year building schedule.

• It features shoreline improvement, a public dock and an affordable housing allocation

• It is built to LEED silver standard (building design rating system) and is the highest rated LEED building in the world.

System infrastructure includes:

• On site sewage treatment with a reclaimed water use system, sludge dewatering

• Exemption from future Victoria sewage treatment plant construction costs and current sewage billing

• Green roofs that reduce storm water runoff, green walls and 1000 trees planned on site

• Environmentally safe construction products inside the units, which are 52% energy efficient

• Some submerged lumber recovery is utilized

• Windmills on the roof with a photovoltaic system that sends power back into the grid

• Living space and hot water heating provided by a biomass system on site; some heat is going to nearby Delta Hotel

• Living unit energy use is posted on the intranet, encouraging competition.

• Generators to cover power outages for up to two days.

Mac Fraser, Director of Local Planning Services at the Islands Trust

Development, Water and the Future of the Islands

Islands Trust works with autonomous local governments on 450 British Columbia islands, Responsible for land use planning (no servicing, which is provided by 157 local BC governments).

Goal is to preserve and protect the unique amenities and environment of the islands from development pressures.

Many of the islands have developed to only half of the permitted development potential.

Development of parks will put development pressure on land outside of them.

Top priority for Islands Trust is to protect drinking water and ground water.

The province is currently doing a groundwater pilot on one island as part of the new Groundwater Protection Act, Involvement and sharing of knowledge in the community planning processes is essential – before issues come up.

Ron Mayo, P.E., B.S., Civil Engineer, University of Washington

Desalinization on the San Juan Islands.

Twelve reverse osmosis plants in the San Juan Islands currently serve 410 housing units.

Energy consumption of those plants equal energy consumption of 15 homes.

One kW hours of electricity processes 31 gallons of water.

Plants costs break down to about $15k per housing unit

Reverse osmosis units receive approval only as a last resort – eleven U.S. agencies are involved in the approval process.

Plants within 200 feet of shore are subject to different rules.

Plant membrane requires periodic chemical cleaning, most owners ship them to the factory

Saltwater wells are not allowed to be sources for these plants to prevent contamination of aquifers.

Roof water catchment will provide 15,000 gal. from a 1500 sq. ft. roof, suitable for a family of 4 for 5 out of 6 years.

Dave Mellis,President, EDS Pumps & Plumbing Ltd.

Water Well Surface Seals and Caps

Recent issue in Langley was a gravel pit application in an area over an aquifer - the application fought and defeated. There are 3 kinds of wells – drilled, dug, and well points, which have direct access to aquifers. New regulations will likely feature:

• Surface seals extending from ground level down 15 feet minimum

• Sanitary well seals containing equipment for the well

• Pitless adaptors allowing clean pump removals

• Well identification plates and well location logging by the province

• No galvanized pipe in w

Well caps must be water tight by gasket, but able to breathe.BC Groundwater Association is a good source of information about existing and current regulations.

Shawn Trimper, Queen’s University

Human Virus Occurrence in Fractured Rock Aquifers

Common well tests are for coliform, e-coli, parasites and bacteria; emerging tests are for pharmaceuticals, hormones and viruses

Towns in Newfoundland, Ontario, Gabriola Island comprise the three studies of drilled wells.

Tests were done two to four times per location over a year.

At least one sample in each area contained viruses, with adenovirus the most common.

32% contained coliform, and only 1 contained e-coli.

More study is needed, but it is believed that if viruses were found, they had been there a long time

Data will be posted on the Queen’s University website when is it assembled.

Jenny McLeod, President, GGMS

Activities and Mandate of the GGMS

The first project of the Gabriola Groundwater Management Society (GGMS) was the Gabriola Groundwater Quality Management Program.

The first phase of this program had tests done on a well, the owner of which was kept confidential, measuring total coliforms and e-coli to a standard that was used across Canada according to government guidelines. The results were to assist Gabriola residents in managing their well water supplies and monitoring their water supply quality.

The second phase was education about groundwater and well construction and assistance to homeowners in upgrading their wells to required standards. They believe that up to a few hundred wells on Gabriola have been brought into top condition through this phase of the project.

The GGMS started to advocate water catchment for domestic use in 2005.

They believe that they do not have a water problem but they do have a water management problem. They need storage for water collection in the rainy season for household use in the dry season thus reducing the water that is pulled from the lower levels of groundwater in the aquifers in the summer when their population triples. This will also minimize the need for new well construction as development occurs. GGMS believes that a program of water conservation, public education and responsible public best practices will help to create a sustainable, healthy community based on a natural, replenished infrastructure.

They have brought this issue to the public and to Islands Trust and to the Regional District of Nanaimo. They have partnered with the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Natural Resources, and Islands Trust in workshop projects. The executive has attended workshops on Mayne Island sponsored by the Mayne Island Integrated Water Services System and UBC’s International Conference on water regulation issues in Canada, San Juan County and Washington State.

In 2007, Jenny MacLeod, GGMS President, received a Stewardship Award from the Islands Trust, an award which is shared with everyone on the board of GGMS.

GGMS continues to work towards groundwater quality management and on groundwater quantity issues, with the goal of a clean, safe, sustainable water supply for our community and our Gabriola residents.

The objectives of the Gabriola Groundwater Management Society are to:

 Promote groundwater management on Gabriola;

 Provide information regarding groundwater use to all interested groups and individuals;

 Develop a data base regarding distribution, quantity, quality and recharging capability of existing wells;

 Explore potential for alternative individual household sewage disposal systems;

 Provide “on island” laboratory water testing services at a nominal fee;

 Promote groundwater management with reference to the island watersheds;

 Develop strategies for dispute resolution regarding neighbourhood water problems;

 Explore the potential for septic tank effluent treatment “on island”; and

 Raise funds to enable the GGMS to carry out its stated purposes.

The GGMS charges $20.00 a test and mails a hard copy of the results to the client. All profits go to maintenance of activities as a groundwater organization.

Red Williams, Island Well Drilling

Well Remediation and Closures

Mild hydrofracturing can rejuvenate wells; some problems in well remediation do not turn out to be real problems.

Monitoring and responsible use of hydrofracturing methods are important along with knowledgable decision-making.

Simple surging can be considered hydrofacturing.

Surface seals that have subsided may not indicate a void. Voids in some rock wells can be viewed with a camera.

Abandoned wells can contaminate the aquifer and should be sealed off with gravel and clay.

We should know if there are abandoned wells on our properties so they can be capped.

Wells with 20-year old pumps will often need a clean and chlorination.

Dr. Harry Hartman, MB Labs, Sidney

Water Quality Issues

Water quality problems are either chemical (iron, manganese, salt, sulfides or arsenic), or

biological (bacterial, viral, parasitic or algae).

Solutions vary depending on the nature or combination of problems.

Dr. Hartman’s presentation will be available on the website.

Gary Gibson, VIHA Supervisor of Environmental Health Officers, Vancouver Island

Obligations for Water Systems Resulting from the Ombudsman’s Report

We are now in the enforcement phase of the Drinking Water Protection Act.

Ombudsman’s “Fit to Drink – the Challenge to Provide Safe Drinking Water in BC” report saw weaknesses in the action plan.

Items included ignored complaints, inconsistent boil water advisories and unenforced monitoring.

Thirty-two recommendations included the reporting of sampling data on the web, water advisory time limits, different

turbidity standards, changes to annual health authority reports and emergency response plans, enforcement of compliance

with drinking water standards, more frequent inspections, and removal of inconsistent policies.

No funding increases were recommended or offered.

As a result either water rates must be raised, lobbying must be initiated, or systems turned over to the local government to operate.

The Drinking Water Protection Act includes:

Submission of an annual report by June 30 of each year for the previous year, according to a template.

Emergency response plans development, tracking and reporting.

Approval of all new sources of water by the local office of VIHA.

There are new water sample parameters to test for.

System water sampling for up to 5000 people now must be done four times per month, and VIHA will no longer be doing them.

Mary Cooper and the MIIWSS thanked Gary for his years of support and attendance at workshops and fall fairs, and congratulated him on his impending retirement

Q & A

Q Is Islands Trust working towards more water observation wells on the islands?

A (Mac Fraser) Yes, on representative islands, with Ministry of Environment doing the hydrology.

Information is going to the Islands Trust website as it is done.

Red Williams questioned why wells are being closed off when they could become observation wells.

Q Can you obtain well mapping information from the provincial government?

A (Mary Cooper) MIIWSS well mapping project ran into some people who would not permit information to be

given to the government.

(Red Williams) My company will provide well logs where possible.

(Gary Steeves) Islands Trust has a collection of hydrological information from other government agencies.

Q Are well closures registered?

A (Red Williams) Closure information is accepted but not necessary. Well tags on closed wells should be sent in.

Q Is water testing of private wells required?

A No, but it is a good idea to do 4/year, then at decreasing frequency if the quality is good.

Q What is the charge for sampling four times per month?

A (Harry Hartman) $80/month

Q What is the penalty for not meeting the system sampling frequency?

A (Gary Gibson) Conditions on the permit will reflect the omission; it is a municipal offense.

Prize Draw

Weigh scales contributed by John Richardson, Premier Plastics Ltd. won by Martin Broad, Mayne Island and Gerald McKeating, Pender Island

Water filter contributed by Dave Mellis, EDS Pumps won by Brian Crumblehulme, Mayne Island

Maple box contributed by Kathy Warning, and Malcolm Scott, Remax Realty, won by Carol Broad, Mayne Island

DVD Player contributed by Jenet Horth, Fred Surridge Ltd., won by Shawn Trimper, Ontario

Downspout contributed by Mayne Island Building Centre, won by Sylvia Pincott, Pender Island

Toby Snelgrove print contributed by Toby Snelgrove Photography, won by Louise Bentley, Galiano Island

Locking well cap contributed by Red Williams Well Drilling, won by Sheila Borman, Galiano Island

Novelty sun glasses contributed by John Richardson, Premier Plastics Ltd., won by John Wiebe, Salt Spring Island

Caroma 4.8/3L dual flush toilet contributed by Barry Girard, Sustainable Solutions Ltd., won by John Wiebe, Salt Spring Island.