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LETTER: Water malfunction was too close for comfort

Summerland’s reservoir is the closest reservoir to a landfill in the province at 300 metres
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Dear Editor:

Last Sunday, Aug. 14, the District of Summerland shut off the water intake into our water reservoir. Yikes!

Our reservoir is the closest reservoir to a landfill in the province: 300 metres. The district created a borehole program which monitored landfill leachate. This chemical contamination is only 140 metres from our drinking water (borehole #6).

READ ALSO: Summerland issues water restriction advisory

What protects our water reservoir is diverted water from Trout Creek. This water intake raises the height of water in the eastern one third of the reservoir. It is called the mounding effect and this increased height of water pushes water outward, protecting the reservoir. The height of water fluctuates but this increased height of water is usually around 1.0 metres to 1.5 metres.

In 1998, there was a joint meeting of senior municipal staff and councillors.

A new water reservoir was identified as Summerland’s third most important capital project (after a water treatment plant and Thirsk dam).

If this mounding effect is violated, the result would be chemical contamination of our water reservoir. The whole water system would be completely shut down.

Last Sunday was a hot day with a large consumption of water. The protective mounding effect, had to be impacted by shutting off the water intake.

This is too close for comfort. Build a new and lined water reservoir.

David Gregory

Summerland

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