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Municipal/regional water supply discussion


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#741 Nparker

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Posted 24 May 2016 - 08:53 AM

Frank Stanford makes a sensible argument re water conservation.

 

 

...I challenge the ideologues in charge of Victoria's water system to find a way to use the surplus the flows from Sooke Lake into the ocean every winter.  Capture it; store it; transport it somebody who needs it.  Stop wasting it. Then your "water conservation by-law" will have some credibility...

http://www.cfax1070....-Tues-May-24-16



#742 JohnN

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Posted 24 May 2016 - 09:34 AM

Editorial: New attitudes on using water, excerpt:

 

But these days, in many parts of Greater Victoria, lawns are green only in the winter. For many such homeowners, a brown summer lawn is the new measure of responsibility. And it’s a sign of our changing attitude to water.

 

http://www.timescolo...water-1.2261190


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#743 JohnN

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Posted 24 May 2016 - 09:37 AM

B.C. schools to be tested annually for lead in drinking water, excerpt:

 

Lead in drinking water has been a hot topic throughout North America since last year’s high-profile concerns about water safety in Flint, Michigan, where the change to a more acidic water source caused people to become ill after lead began leaching from old pipes. B.C. largely relies on a system of “flushing” pipes with high lead levels, by having staff run the water for several minutes either daily or weekly to reduce the lead content.

 

http://www.timescolo...water-1.2261269


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#744 JohnN

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Posted 24 May 2016 - 09:43 AM

Frank Stanford makes a sensible argument re water conservation.

http://www.cfax1070....-Tues-May-24-16

Stanford's argument that water overflowing the dam and entering Sooke River is wasted will be challenged by those who think that the water is needed downstream for environmental purposes. If the T'Souke First Nations thinks that, any ideas to try to capture that overflow water will need to address what the FN wants to do first and foremost. Nobody thought to consult the FN when the Sooke Dam was being raised but FN lawyers made sure that the dam raising could only happen if the FN got something out of it - which they did as Deception Reservoir became virtually an FN resource, as well as the FN being able to call on Sooke Reservoir water if necessary to keep flows going at a rate that they want for their purposes.


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#745 JohnN

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Posted 28 May 2016 - 10:36 AM

Water levels dangerously low in Cowichan Valley

Cowichan Valley Citizen
May 27, 2016

Excerpt:

Jon Lefebure, co-chairman of the Cowichan Water Board, said there is still hope that there will be enough rainfall during the spring to offset fears of another drought. He said that when it rains in Duncan and Chemainus, it typically rains five times as much on the west end of Cowichan Lake which feeds many of the water systems in the region.

“We’re all hoping for that, but people are encouraged to check the Cowichan Water Board’s website for updates on the region’s water situation as the season progresses,” Lefebure said.

FULL STORY: http://www.cowichanv.../381035971.html


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#746 JohnN

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Posted 28 May 2016 - 10:52 AM

Image of Cowichan Valley hydrology gradient: 

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#747 JohnN

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Posted 28 May 2016 - 11:40 AM

CRD Water Advisory Committee meets June 1, 2016. 

Agenda package includes minutes from the last meeting with a Climate Change adaptation strategy presentation. Agenda for June 1 meeting includes report on wildfire risk assessment.

 

Full Agenda plus presentation and reports:

https://www.crd.bc.c...s.pdf?sfvrsn=4 


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#748 JohnN

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Posted 30 May 2016 - 06:08 AM

Drought prompts Cowichan River supply rationing

Amy Smart

Times Colonist
May 29, 2016 

Excerpt:

Cowichan River stewards are taking emergency measures to ration the water supply, calling it the new “worst year” for early drought conditions...“We thought we were in better shape this year. However, warm temperatures and a dry early spring saw the snowpack disappearing quickly,” said CVRD chairman and North Cowichan Mayor Jon Lefebure. 

http://www.timescolo...oning-1.2265516

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#749 JohnN

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Posted 03 July 2016 - 05:59 AM

Excerpt:

He [Mike Hicks] has also argued that it’s hypocritical for the CRD to endorse the David Suzuki Foundation’s environmental bill of rights, which includes the right to drink clean water, and then deny certain residents water. 

 

Accord reached on piping water to Juan de Fuca area: 

http://www.timescolo...-area-1.2292868


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#750 Mike K.

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Posted 04 July 2016 - 08:19 AM

An Esquimalt woman has tested her water pH with a standard aquarium water testing kit and to her surprise has found the water to be extremely acidic, even too acidic for her fish.

 

Good water ought to be between pH of 6.5 and 8.5. Her test revealed the water to be at 5.0. I just ran a test and have 6.6, that's at the very low-end of where it ought to be.

 

This may indicate her building has an issue with its pipes. It's a good idea to test the water supply with regularity to ensure everything is on the up-and-up with your pipes.

 

Victoria-pH-water-test.jpg


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#751 JohnN

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Posted 04 July 2016 - 09:37 AM

Indeed, could be that something between the CRD treatment plant and her tap is changing the pH levels.

 

From CRD's Explanation of Headings used in the Water Quality Tables, excerpt:
The Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality set an acceptable range for drinking water pH from 6.5 to 8.5 pH units. One of the main reasons for this range of pH in drinking water is to minimize corrosion or incrustation in the pipes, which cause considerable damage to the water supply system. Corrosion of piping materials may become significant below pH 6.5, and the frequency of incrustation and scaling problems may be increased above pH 8.5.
https://www.crd.bc.c...-quality-tables

The CRD's Weekly and Monthly water quality reports appear to only include pH in the Water Treatment Plant component reports, which for the Weekly Report (June 26-July 2) was as on report image below:
https://www.crd.bc.c...quality-reports

The Greater Victoria Drinking Water Quality Annual Report 2015 notes that "The raw water entering the Japan Gulch Disinfection Plant (see Appendix A, Table 1) is very soft (median value for hardness of 17.95 mg/L); it has a neutral pH (median of 7.32)" (page 15).
https://www.crd.bc.c...rt.pdf?sfvrsn=4

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#752 Mike K.

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Posted 04 July 2016 - 11:41 AM

Should we be getting concerned if water tests are showing a pH of 6.6?


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#753 Bingo

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Posted 05 July 2016 - 04:35 AM

Should we be getting concerned if water tests are showing a pH of 6.6?

 

I don't think we need to be concerned. I have been drinking water from Sooke Lake my whole life.

I also went to school here and drank water from the same pipes that they are now finding miniscule amounts of lead coming out of the drinking fountains.

Once folks start testing the pH and lead content of the beer they drink they will ignore the readings.



#754 North Shore

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Posted 05 July 2016 - 08:58 AM

I don't think we need to be concerned. I have been drinking water from Sooke Lake my whole life.

I also went to school here and drank water from the same pipes that they are now finding miniscule amounts of lead coming out of the drinking fountains.

 

 

And just look at you - turning green and whiskery, with oversized ears!


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#755 JohnN

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Posted 05 July 2016 - 09:27 AM

As long as the pH level in your water emerging from your taps (not just a Sooke Lake Reservoir), is between 6.5 and 8.5, CRD says shouldn't be a problem. If the tap water goes below 6.5 pH, could have issue with lead and copper leaching from pipes. 

Related news stories:

 

February 2016: "Lead in Greater Victoria’s water? Not likely, CRD says": http://www.timescolo...-says-1.2172386

June 2016: "Don’t panic on lead in drinking water, health official says": http://www.timescolo...-says-1.2281112

 

EPA website excerpt:

Lead can enter drinking water when service pipes that contain lead corrode, especially where the water has high acidity or low mineral content that corrodes pipes and fixtures. The most common problem is with brass or chrome-plated brass faucets and fixtures with lead solder, from which significant amounts of lead can enter into the water, especially hot water.

Homes built before 1986 are more likely to have lead pipes, fixtures and solder. The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) has reduced the maximum allowable lead content -- that is, content that is considered "lead-free" -- to be a weighted average of 0.25 percent calculated across the wetted surfaces of pipes, pipe fittings, plumbing fittings, and fixtures and 0.2 percent for solder and flux.

 

https://www.epa.gov/...g-water#getinto


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#756 JohnN

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Posted 05 July 2016 - 04:08 PM

RFP called for CRD Drinking Water Safety Plan Consulting Services, July 5. Excerpt:

The objective of this project is to develop a Drinking Water Safety Plan (DWSP) with specific focus on risks to water quality for the CRD-operated water infrastructure.   Developing a DWSP for the CRD water system is a proactive initiative to assess risks to the drinking water quality and to help augment existing programs aimed at ensuring the reliability and safety of drinking water throughout the CRD service area in Greater Victoria.

The work shall encompass a holistic assessment of water quality risks from catchments to water treatment techniques and water distribution systems.  The multiple barrier assessment shall amalgamate into a risk management document (i.e. DWSP) that will help inform risk mitigation and contingency planning measures, alongside monitoring and operational program improvements to ensure the delivery of safe and reliable drinking water.

https://www.crd.bc.c...ulting-services

Appendix A of the RFP has two pages of more detailed information and can be downloaded by clicking on link at bottom of webpage: https://sites.google...gwaterinfo/home


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#757 Mike K.

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Posted 05 July 2016 - 05:52 PM

What about chlorine? The smell of chlorine emanating from water in Esquimalt and Vic West can be overwhelming at times, it's like there is a higher concentration of the stuff east of downtown. In downtown the water doesn't have any near the same odour.

 

Is this something that should be brought to the CRD's attention?


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#758 JohnN

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Posted 05 July 2016 - 06:58 PM

What about chlorine? The smell of chlorine emanating from water in Esquimalt and Vic West can be overwhelming at times, it's like there is a higher concentration of the stuff east of downtown. In downtown the water doesn't have any near the same odour.

 

Is this something that should be brought to the CRD's attention?

The number 2 water main serves Esquimalt and Vic West (image below) but the only disinfection facility serving the core CRD area is at Japan Gulch. So unlikely that additional chloramine would get into the Esquimalt/Vic West area water supply. But there might be other reasons for that chlorine smell. The chloramine added to disinfect the CRD drinking water might change during the seasons, like when the Sooke Lake reservoir water is warmer in August and early September, might be higher. Also might depend on what algae is in the water too. 

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#759 Mike K.

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Posted 05 July 2016 - 07:11 PM

Interesting.

 

My friends cringe every time they pour themselves a glass of water. I've had to start filtering the stuff or drink bottled water. And recently I've heard people in the neighbourhood complaining about the same issue so I know it's not just my place. Meanwhile across the bridge the tap water is fine.


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#760 Bingo

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Posted 05 July 2016 - 08:48 PM

Interesting.

 

My friends cringe every time they pour themselves a glass of water. I've had to start filtering the stuff or drink bottled water. And recently I've heard people in the neighbourhood complaining about the same issue so I know it's not just my place. Meanwhile across the bridge the tap water is fine.

 

Speaking of THE bridge, perhaps now we are seeing that there were far more important infrastructure issues to deal with than the bridge.



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