Parksville council hopes an upcoming water use planning and management study will provide more certainty about the effects of climate change and population growth on the city's water supply.
Council voted to proceed with posting a request for proposal for the study, which is included in Parksville's strategic plan.
“This is the very first important step to assure water sustainability for the City of Parksville, and this is going long-term," said Mayor Doug O'Brien during council's July 15 meeting. "This is going at least a 50-year look into the future."
Up to $875,000 could be spent on the project, according to a report by Simon Doiron, manager of utilities, with the city providing $750,000, and a further $125,000 from the Englishman River Water Service.
"Climate change poses a risk to the safety and sustainability of our water supply," Doiron's report said. "This study will provide essential insights for proper planning, management, and funding to ensure drinking water security."
The city draws its water supply from the Englishman River and municipal wells, but these sources have been impacted by recent droughts, which have become more frequent, according to Doiron's report.
"This is expected to pose management challenges for the City of Parksville to maintain water quantity and quality into the future," the report stated.
Infrastructure such as reservoirs and dams can take many years to bring to fruition, Doiron's report noted, and the multi-year study will help staff prioritize based on the needs Parksville faces.
The $750,000 that has been allocated in the budget is from grant money and was not raised by property taxes, according to O'Brien.
He added that certain "design deficiencies" identified in the water treatment plant will be addressed with the study.
“This will also help to remediate some of those systems that are not performing to optimum performance," O'Brien added.
Coun. Sean Wood pointed out that B.C. is experiencing the lowest snow pack levels since the 1970s.
“I think this is money well spent to get the latest data and make sure we are looking ahead," he said. "And if there is infrastructure to be built, that we build it for the latest data that we have."
Coun. Amit Gaur said he is not against studying the city's water situation, but opposed the motion because it appeared to be a duplication of information the city already has.
"My biggest concern is we already have all this information," Gaur said. "I would support something if you’re looking at building additional storage, specifically, I would support that."
The study will identify if new infrastructure such as a dam or more reservoirs are required, according to Doiron.
Coun. Mary Beil said there is a lot of interest in the city's water situation, but there is also a lot of "misunderstanding out there about what the role of water conservation is and what that means for our community."
"I think that having this study will not only help inform us as to the best route going forward," Beil said. "But also serve to communicate with the residents from an unbiased source as to what our situation is and what we need to do."
