Image Credit: The Canadian Press

By Mel Rothenburger

ARMCHAIR MAYOR

ROTHENBURGER: Auditor General’s report on drinking water is shocking

Jul 31, 2019 | 7:39 AM

KAMLOOPS — A REPORT RELEASED by B.C. Auditor General Carol Bellringer yesterday is an indictment of the provincial government’s failure to take the crisis in water quality seriously.

The report says the health ministry has no comprehensive strategy to deal with it and doesn’t even know which water systems are at risk.

Cities like Kamloops and even smaller communities like Chase might have trouble relating to these findings because they have excellent water treatment facilities. Before the construction of its state-of-the-art Centre for Water quality in 2005, though, Kamloops had lousy water.

Several tens of millions of dollars later, the problem was resolved, but most small communities don’t have that ability.

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Bellringer notes that B.C. hasn’t had a known outbreak of water borne illnesses since 2004 but just a single event can have serious health impacts.

There are about 4,800 drinking water systems in B.C., 90 per cent of which are small systems serving comparatively few people. These are the ones most at risk.

In 2002, a provincial government report called Action Plan for Safe Drinking Water committed to providing good drinking water for everyone. That report was updated this year but, clearly, there hasn’t been much action.

Just two years ago, an IHA report identified 1,600 water systems in the Interior Health region, and found that 20 per cent of them are under a water quality advisory almost every day.

Bellringer’s report lists eight recommendations, including such things as reviewing legislation and better coordination among agencies.

There should have been a ninth — “show me the money.” Upgrading the water systems in small communities can’t happen without greatly increased provincial and federal funding programs.

The risks to drinking water are only going to increase with more population and industrial development. It’s time to act.

I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.

Mel Rothenburger is a former mayor of Kamloops and newspaper editor. He publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a director on the Thompson-Nicola Regional District board. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.

Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group.