by
Jennifer Dart
The Westerly News
July 13, 2005
Relief is on the way for Tofino's water shortage woes, but it won't be arriving this summer.
Tofino council has resolved to continue pursuing two projects that will alleviate both short- and long-term issues, but the soonest either of these will be completed is March, 2006.
To address possible shortages this year, public works superintendent Gary Holte has hatched a new, six-stage water restriction criteria document, as well as a water shortage response plan, both of which were approved by council June 27.
Based on this document, a bylaw will be developed setting out increasingly strict measures for conserving water if the supply dwindles due to dry weather this summer. Although it seems unlikely with all the rain we've had so far this month, the outlook for Vancouver Island earlier this year was for a hot, dry summer, compounded by low levels of snow accumulation.
Stages 1 through 4 of the plan couples decreased outdoor watering guidelines with an increase in violation fines, which have yet to be deterrmined by council.
Stage 5 has step water rates being doubled and an immediate call for users to cut back their usage by 30%. Stage 6 is a state of emergency, with water being shut off to users in the district. Water would then be supplied to residents through the public works yard, and district washroom facilities would be available for use.
Until this year, the water response plan had only 4 stages, but Holte says if this version of the plan had been in place during last summert's drought conditions, Tofino would have hit stage 5 in August.
"As new development creates additional demand on the existing water supply, the time span between stages diminishes," stated Holte in a report to council.
Until storage and infrastructure are improved by the two projects being pursued by the district, this document is the safeguard for Tofino's water supply.
Holte says he will be meeting with local businesses in the restaurant and accommodation industry to discuss the bylaw, so they can have input into the water shortage response plan. Holte will also be propmoting educa to the public on water conservation, in case stage 5 is reached again.
Mayor Al Anderson says the notion of a moratorium on development because of water issues has been raised in council, but that it was not seriously considered for various reasons. First, the Municipal Act requires council to hear all applications coming forward, although they could be turned down if the water situation were critical. Some developments have been required to provide their own fire protection supply of water, the mayor said.
Also, as the community continues to reach conservation goals, it is possible to allow development to continue, he added.
He pointed out that it is only some occasions, such as summer long weekends, that cause peaks in usage, while average yearly use is quite steady.
Added to that is the fact that only one fish plant is operating in Tofino this year, and that industry continues to cut back on water usage.
What is on the horizon for improvements to the water system?
As an expeditious remedy to supply shortage, the district has applied to the Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services (MCAWS) for a grant to expand the reservoir at Ginnard Creek on Meares Island.
The Tofino Water Upgrade project, slated for completion in March 2006, addresses the longer-term health and capacity of the water system. Another grant has already been approved for this project. Preliminary work has been completed and the tender is now out for further work. The project involves the construction of a water supply main to the south end of the district, to increase water/fire capacity in that area; building another reservoir at the stump dump; improving the pump station at Industrial Way for better transfer of water between zones; and installing a supervisory software program to police the entire system. The project is also a step toward a more regional water solution, namely a Kennedy Lake supply.
Although Tofino's Water Advisory Committee recommended that council take the approved grant money for the upgrade project and focus it on the Ginnard Creek emergency supply project, council elected to continue to pursue both projects.
The rationale was that councillors did not think the grant money approved for the upgrade project could be transferred to the Ginnard Creek expansion.
One snag, as district administrator Leif Pedersen reported to council, is that the MCAWS grant for Ginnarad Creek seems unlikely to be approved. Pedersen said MCAWS staff indicated to the district they are favouring projects for communities that are regularly in a "boil water" advisory situation.
Should the grant be denied, the issue will have to go to referendum as part of the municipal election this fall, because Tofino will have reached its borrowing capacity.
"If we don't get the Ginnard grant, we'll have to contribute an additional $400,000 [to the project] over what we've budgeted," Pedersen told council.
The mayor agreed that the "biggest implication" of the Ginnard Creek project was potentially maxing out the district's borrowing capacity.
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