With Gibsons' aquifer-mapping project due to be complete next month, the Town is pondering a community outreach program that could include self-guided aquifer tours.
Reporting to council's committee of the whole on Feb. 5, groundwater consultant Susan Gordon said the outreach effort will provide an important opportunity to raise public awareness about Gibsons' drinking water.
"The community really has a key role in sustaining and protecting the groundwater supply. An example of an action could be a subtle behaviour change. That could be conserving water, as an example," Gordon said.
A first step in extending its outreach, she said, would be to promote the name - "Gibsons Aquifer" -by publicizing it and putting it literally on the map.
"But the big thing we're proposing," she said, "is the Gibsons Aquifer Interpretive Tours."
The self-guided walking or biking tours would be similar to the Sea to Sky Geological Tour, she said. As examples, a Gibsons Landing tour could take in the visitors' centre, seawalk, fountain, water dispenser, and Town wells in Dougall Park and Town Hall, while a Gibsons to Mount Elphinstone tour could be tailored for tourists, mountain bikers and hikers.
Responding to the proposal, Coun. Charlene SanJenko praised the way it combines water awareness with recreation.
"I see it partnering with the museum, the art gallery and the library," SanJenko said. "That's what we're trying to do - give people something to walk around the community for."
Coun. Gerry Tretick suggested the Town could attract water conferences in the future.
"I can see this developing into a plan where people would want to come and talk about water," Tretick said.
The community's interest in the aquifer-mapping project "is extremely high," Coun. Dan Bouman said.
"There are only a few municipalities in B.C. that are allowed to distribute water without chlorination," Bouman noted. "Part of protecting the aquifer is to prevent us from ever getting into a situation where chlorination is imposed on us."
The committee agreed to have staff bring back budget proposals for the outreach program and ongoing aquifer monitoring for discussions at a future council meeting.
