Editor:
In consideration of World Water Week, it is important to be clear about our precious source of drinking water, Chapman Creek, which provides over 80 per cent of our region’s water. Safeguarding it and its sources, Chapman and Edwards lakes, is essential. The Sunshine Coast Conservation Association has worked for watershed protection for years, even publishing a book on the subject: The People’s Water (2009, by Daniel Bouman and Andrew Scott). There is nothing more important to communities than drinking water, and if protected for human use, the watershed also serves critical habitat requirements for fish and wildlife.
In our conversations with the SCRD over the years, we have emphasized conservation measures, like mandatory lawn watering restrictions from May 1 to Oct. 1, diversifying the water system to decrease our overwhelming reliance on Chapman Creek, and harvesting rainwater in barrels or cisterns. Although the regional district is acting on some measures, others may take years to implement, so we urge residents to conserve water during the annual drought months. Many think of our region as being a rainforest, but our dry summers put enormous stress on wildlife and eco-systems, and these droughts will likely grow more severe with climate change.
Over-logging in our drinking watershed has led to lack of water retention and harmful sedimentation, which poses problems for the regional treatment system on Chapman Creek. The cities of Vancouver and Victoria control their own watersheds, where no industrial activity or recreational use is allowed. The SCRD, although charged with providing safe drinking water, has no regulatory control of the drinking watershed (the same for communities across B.C.), despite petitioning for years. We urge residents to write to provincial government leaders to request such legislation.
Gayle Neilson, co-chair
S.C. Conservation Association
