Editor:
Being as we were still experiencing Stage 4 water restrictions in December, I think a fair question to ask is, what would happen if our water shortage continues or worsens next year or in the years after that? What would happen if our new councils continue to approve new large development applications like the ones we are already seeing in Sechelt, or worse yet, continue to proceed with ones that have already been approved (that’s another story) and expect water service when they apply for building permits?
So does it make sense to continue to approve new developments without regard for our (lack of) capacity or ability to deliver water and just continue to enact water use restrictions for existing households and taxpayers year after year after year? It’s like trying to put the fire out by pouring more gasoline to it, isn’t it? Have you seen the mayor’s message on YouTube of what happened to Bowen Island in January 2022. Snug Cove building permits have been “paused” and “no more building permits will be issued for Snug Cove developments requiring sewage hookups until steps are taken to solve the neighbourhood’s sewer issues.” The municipality has run out of sewer capacity and is apparently not issuing new building permits until their sewer plant is upgraded “because the Wastewater Treatment Plant has reached capacity and simply cannot support the demand of any new occupancy that would be placed on the system.” Sound familiar?
A Coast Reporter online question asks “Has the Sunshine Coast water crisis affected your quality of life?” Including those that have apparently given up expecting more “Sort of, but not more than other years” to “Absolutely yes, its deeply affected my lifestyle/business”, over 70% of the readers that responded have said it has. In other words, no water, no community. Simple as that.
Warren Allan, Sechelt
