Dear Editor:
I attended the RDOS’s Regional Compost proposal for Summerland on May 17 2017. I was shocked at the lack of preparation.
Summerland has made some major blunders with our landfill, compost, bio-solid disposal and water treatment plant over the years. But at least we now have a better understanding of the hydrology of the area. No such understanding was displayed at this meeting.
The presenter was unaware of the direction of the groundwater at the proposed disposal site. This is important. This information has been available since 1975. (Kvill, Masters thesis)
The presenter was of the belief that the Summerland landfill was lined. The vast majority of the landfill unfortunately is not lined. Only in recent years are linings now in use. (Summerland has the closest landfill to a drinking water reservoir in B.C.)
The presenter was not aware how the Trout Creek Reservoir was created. The reservoir is a kettle lake formed by groundwater. It is critical that the groundwater is protected from landfill leachate. Summerland has an extensive borehole program monitoring groundwater. The presenter was completely unaware of this and the existence of landfill leachate near the reservoir.
We now understand that disposal sites must be located as far to the north and as far to the east of the reservoir as possible, to protect our drinking water. But this proposal not only is further west but it will also add water, enhancing leachate migration. How is it possible that the Summerland site was short-listed by the RDOS ?
I will not mention odour control and the fact that this facility will be close to the lands used for the Kettle Valley Railway robberies: Summerland’s number one tourist attraction.
David E. Gregory
Summerland