1124 replies to this topic

[VicHockeyFan]

Why doesn't the city build a water storage tank farm on all that wasted space at Ogden Point and ship water to California during the months it goes over the Sooke Lake spillway?

 

California does not have a water shortage.  They have a water-management problem.  And they are not short of drinking water, and that's all that is economical to ship in any way other than a natural river or man-made pipeline.

[Bingo]

California does not have a water shortage.  They have a water-management problem.  And they are not short of drinking water, and that's all that is economical to ship in any way other than a natural river or man-made pipeline.

 

Right, but we need to take advantage of those folks who have a "water management problem"

We could make an arrangement with the cruise ships that delivering water to California is more profitable than carrying passengers.

If they have a "water management problem" they probably also have a "passenger management problem" that we can fix.

[Bingo]

Letter to editor in todays TC

 

Re: “Legislature drinking water unsafe, MLA says,” March 9. Lead content in B.C. legislature water measured 5.5 times maximum permissible drinking-water levels.

 

Exposure to lead can cause behavioural problems.

This explains so much.

Alan Newell Chemainus

 

- See more at: http://www.timescolo...h.tHPrLdRj.dpuf

 

[lanforod]

Seriously, they really need to bite the bullet and do that full gut and rework of the BC Leg building. Seismic work etc.

[insanelydeadlydisease]

If the leg collapsed during an earthquake it'd probably be a good thing honestly. 

[GabriolaGirl]

I've been waiting for Ms Clark to have the building condemned & move the legislature to Vancouver or Kelowna, since she has on more than one occasion mentioned how much she dislikes Victoria.

[VicHockeyFan]

Vancouver Island water watchers remain on alert in the wake of last summer’s extraordinary drought.

 

But they have found some comfort in at least one nice soft pillow.

 

According to the water supply bulletin posted today by the B.C. government, the Vancouver Island snowpack is right where one would expect it to be at this time of year: at 99 per cent of its normal historical level. It’s an early indication that the Island may not be facing the same extreme conditions experienced last year.

 

Compared to a Vancouver Island snowpack of just 15 per cent of normal on April 1, 2015, the current measurements are being welcomed as a positive, ending five straight years of decline.

 

B.C. River Forecast Centre section head David Campbell said weather volatility make long-term predictions impossible, but the Island is at a good starting point heading into summer.

 

“I think it is not as extreme as last year in terms of the snow,” he said. “It’s still been warm, but we’ve had enough accumulate on the higher elevation.”

 

The Wolf River snow pillow — located in the mountains northwest of Courtenay, and one of nine snowpack monitors on the Island — is reporting levels at 112 per cent of the expected normal.

 

http://www.peninsula.../374957081.html

[JanionGuy]

Should be titled "Mid and North Vancouver Island Water Watchers"

 

While that is a wonderful article -- and thank your for posting it -- snowpack has very little to do with the Victoria water supply.  It has more to do with mid- and north-island water supply. Accumulated snow, thus melting snow = water flow, as long as it is there to melt. But our Victoria water supply don't have much snow in them there hills.

 

I was chatting with someone recently who thought the water supply for everyone in BC (and Canada for that matter) came from melting snow and glaciers.  That is not the case for our reservoirs here on the south island.  But it's still good news for many up-island communities and our rivers and steams, whose fish populations depend on late summer and early fall runoffs.  

Edited by JanionGuy, 10 April 2016 - 09:18 PM.

[Nparker]

 

 

Vancouver Island water watchers remain on alert in the wake of last summer’s extraordinary drought.

Why? We clearly are not facing the same conditions as last year.

[Bingo]

That's a pack of snow.

[JohnN]

http://www.peninsula.../374957081.html

Thanks for posting that news story.

Interesting that while the Peninsula news story relates that a hydrology tech actually went up Heather Mountain to check the snowpack, the BC River Forecast Centre Snow Bulletin data table shows nothing for Heather Mountain normal or historical comparisons. Several other BC stations also have that normal and historical data missing. Wonder why that is?

 

As noted on the BC River Forecast Centre, the variation of average temperatures may have a lot to do with likelihood of drought conditions coming up: how early and extensive the snow melt, how dry the forests are, etc. I guess after last year, nobody in Cowichan is going to be relaxing. For Sooke Reservoir, the Fire Weather Conditions site that posts data for three of the weather sensors in the Reservoir lands summarize factors going into the Forest fire likelihood and danger class: https://www.crd.bc.c...ther-conditions

[JohnN]

Two RFP calls currently on CRD's RFP website: 

- Sooke Reservoir Seismic Stability Assessment: https://www.crd.bc.c...lity-assessment

- Sooke Lake Dam - 2016 Dam Safety Review:  https://www.crd.bc.c...m-safety-review

Edited by JohnN, 03 May 2016 - 09:25 AM.

[lanforod]

Droughts are more common here than formerly thought, and more extreme: http://www.cbc.ca/ne...eveal-1.3566856

 

"Residents on B.C.'s South Coast will likely have to endure worse droughts in the coming decades than previously thought according to a new study from the University of Victoria.

 

Researchers used tree ring data to reveal centuries of B.C.'s water history — much further back than the 50 or so years that humans have been keeping stream-flow records."

[JohnN]

Letter writer in today's Times Colonist might be underestimating cost of a water filtration plant for the CRD. A CRD water filtration (not treatment) plant could well cost many more than tens of millions of dollars, given that Nanaimo's plant cost about $75 million and Vancouver's seriously-overbudget Capilano-Seymour filtration plant cost $820 million. 

 

"Better to spend on water-filtration plant": http://www.timescolo...plant-1.2254511

 

Nanaimo water filtration plant: http://www.valueofwa...plant-facts.pdf

Capilano-Seymour water filtration plant: http://www.theglobea...rticle24448442/

[JohnN]

Tours of the Greater Victoria Water Supply Area & Facilities

The Capital Regional District’s Get to Know Your H2O Tours are a great way to discover how your drinking water is delivered from the source to your tap. During the tour you’ll discover the natural landscapes, water supply reservoirs, and the treatment process that provides Greater Victoria with high quality tap water.

Residents of the region are invited to register for a free tour guided by CRD staff onboard a school bus. There are several tour options and each tour will have various stops for you to disembark and see your water system up close:

Each tour will leave from the CRD Field Office on a school bus that will be guided to various stops within our protected watersheds to let you discover these special places first hand. All tours require advanced reservations.

Online registration opens on Wednesday, April 20th

Tour 1: Source to Tap (5.5 hours)

Follows the flow of water starting at the north end of Sooke Lake Reservoir. This tour explores the surrounding forests, Rithet Creek (main tributary to Sooke Lake Reservoir), water supply facilities and the treatment process that ensures the water delivered to your tap is optimal. Recommended for ages 12 and up.

When:

Friday June 10 & 24
Friday July 8 & 22

Time: 9:30am to approximately 3pm

Location: Meet at the CRD Field Office parking lot – 2955 Sooke Lake Road (near Goldstream Park campground). Directional signs will be posted.

Tour 2: Behind the Red Gate (3 hours)

Ever wondered what’s behind the red gate? This is your chance to discover the protected watersheds and water supply facilities. This tour focuses on visits to Sooke Lake and Goldstream Lake reservoirs and the ultraviolet disinfection facility. Recommended for ages 12 and up.

When:

Saturday June 11 & 25
Saturday July 9 & 23

Time: 1pm to approximately 4pm

Location: Meet at the CRD Field Office parking lot – 2955 Sooke Lake Road (near Goldstream Park campground)

Tour 3: Family Tour (3 hours)

Hey young explorers, bring your favourite adults along to discover where your water comes from. We’ll explore the plants and animals that call this special place home and learn how we’re all sharing this precious resource. This tour includes a walk in the forest and several other short stops. Please note there are no baby changing facilities and strollers cannot be accommodated on the bus. Recommended for all ages.

When:

Saturday June 11 & 25
Saturday July 9 & 23

Time: 9:30am to noon

Location: Meet at the CRD Field Office parking lot – 2955 Sooke Lake Road (near Goldstream Park campground)

Technical/Post-Secondary Tours:
The CRD is proud to support advanced learning opportunities. Come discover the many professional, technical and specially trained staff involved in providing drinking water to over 350,000 residents. Please email for more information.

https://www.crd.bc.c...watershed-tours

Edited by JohnN, 15 May 2016 - 08:49 AM.

[JohnN]

Monique Keiran TC commentary column today includes right of public use of Leech River watershed and quality of the drinking water. She doesn't mention that water filtration, if demanded by federal or provincial government, or needed because of water quality, could cost a lot - I think somewhere like $150-200 million. 

Monique Keiran: A few believe rules don’t apply to them: http://www.timescolo...tival-1.2260802

[JohnN]

Wally Vowles, alternate regional director for Juan de Fuca district, has letter in today's TC. Excerpts:

- Unlike the rest of the world, however, the Capital Regional District, some municipal planners and Victoria Coun. Ben Isitt continue to deny our residents this essential resource.

- We really don’t ask for much, but in regards to water, we desire the same access afforded our neighbours in Metchosin, who have proven that it is possible to have piped water, controlled growth and no urban sprawl. 

 

Juan de Fuca residents deserve access to water:  http://www.timescolo...water-1.2260475

[Bingo]

How about building a smaller reservoir downstream from the Sooke reservoir to catch all the water that goes over the top of the dam during the winter.

[JohnN]

How about building a smaller reservoir downstream from the Sooke reservoir to catch all the water that goes over the top of the dam during the winter.

Issue could be that both the T'Souke First Nations and the DFO might want to keep the winter dam overflow going down the river if it contributes to conservation purposes (ie, survival of fish) downstream from the dam.

 

CRD and T'Souke have an agreement that flow from Deception Reservoir is dedicated to conservation (along with flow from Sooke reservoir if need arises) so maybe a downstream Sooke River dam might be seen by the FN as impairing that agreement. 

 

Reference: CRD report to Water Supply Commission, "To review why the Sooke Dam was not raised more than 6 metres" (Jan 21, 2009): 

https://www.crd.bc.c...mR.pdf?sfvrsn=0

[JohnN]

A survey by The Vancouver Sun and results compiled by the province show that 17 of B.C.’s 60 school districts have found elevated lead levels in at least one water source... In Sooke, it was found in Metchosin school. In Saanich, it was found at Sidney elementary school.

 

Where has lead been found in B.C. schools?

http://www.theprovin...4261/story.html