
Bruce and Nicole Gibbons, photograph from their Facebook page
Island and BC coastal communities say “ban groundwater licenses”
Representatives of 53 municipalities on Vancouver Island and the British Columbia coast have endorsed a Comox Valley initiative for the province to stop issuing licenses for the bottling and commercial sale of groundwater.
Meeting this week in Powell River, the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities, which includes Comox Valley municipalities, passed the resolution unanimously.
The motion now moves to the Union of BC Municipalities for consideration at its annual meeting during the week of Sept. 23 in Vancouver. If it is supported by a majority of provincial municipalities, the resolution would be sent to the BC government for action.
Bruce Gibbons, of the Merville Water Guardians who originated the initiative, called the AVICC vote “a huge victory.”
“That (the unanimous vote) means that the 53 member communities of the AVICC unanimously support the ask of that resolution, and ultimately the protection of groundwater,” he said.
Gibbons praised Strathcona Regional District Director Brenda Leigh for championing the resolution. The SRD passed a similar motion in February requesting the province cease groundwater exports for commercial water bottling and bulk water sales.
“There are 29 regional districts in British Columbia, and a lot of them have been impacted by corporate extraction of their water supply,” said Leigh. “This is very important because the commodification of water in Canada means that we’re putting our water sources at risk.”
Groundwater extraction and water bottling rose to public attention last year at the Comox Valley Regional District. Merville landowners Scott MacKenzie and his wife, Regula Heynck, obtained a license from the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource and Rural Development (FLNRORD) to extract up to 10,000 litres per day or 3.65 million litres per year.
But the CVRD ultimately denied MacKenzie and Heynck an application to rezone their property on Sackville Road to conduct water bottling operations as the principal use of their property.
MacKenzie and Heynck then approached the Strathcona Regional District and were denied again.
The struggle between FLNRORD and the Comox Valley Regional District highlighted the friction between regional districts and the BC government over groundwater extraction for profit. The dispute began when FLNRORD MacKenzie a license without public notification and against the wishes of the CVRD and K’omoks First Nation.
But there was considerable public opposition to the license, and the CVRD denial effectively rendered the license unusable.
Leigh said her motion is rooted in general principle, and not in reaction to the CVRD dispute.
She says changes to the provincial Water Sustainability Act would negate the need for district-level efforts to control commercial water extraction with zoning decisions.
“First things first – we need to get the province on our side, and make sure they’re protecting our water. They have the power to do that.”
Some areas in Leigh’s district, which includes the north Oyster River area, rely totally on groundwater. In recent summers, drought conditions in August have forced the district to tap emergency reservoirs.
She anticipates climate change will exacerbate the problem in the future.
Watershed Sentinel Assistant Editor Gavin McRae contributed to this article
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
Wildwood: A community model for creating jobs and revenue within ecological parameters
A small charitable society has restored a heritage home and property with the help of local government into a self-sustaining and job-creating destination for people from all over the world. It’s a possible model for Mack Laing’s property and home
Another environmental dilemma: Do biosolids pose a public health risk?
Comox Valley electoral area directors told land applications of biosolids pose a danger to humans and a legal risk for the regional district, but the CVRD has invested heavily to produce a more highly treated Class A composting product
Contemplation in action — a friend remembers Father Charles Brandt
A reflection on Father Charles Brandt by Bruce Witzel, chair of the Brandt Oyster River Hermitage Society
Cycling has boomed during the pandemic, but do we have the infrastructure to make it safe?
The pandemic has created a bicycle boom, but do we have the necessary infrastructure to make cycling safe?
New Comox Valley society hopes to preserve Bevan Trails forest along Puntledge River
The Bevan Trails, a popular Comox Valley recreation area on the Puntledge River, faces the threat of logging. But a newly formed local society hopes to preserve the Puntledge River forest in perpetuity
Scientists using satellite data to detect pollution from international shipping industry
International shipping is of the world biggest emitters of polluting and toxic chemicals. Now, scientists are tracking their emissions with satellite data
BREAKING: Kus-kus-sum purchase funds complete, thanks to province
New funding from the BC Government announced today puts Project Watershed’s Kus-kus-sum fundraising over the top, allowing restoration to begin
Obituary: Fr. Charles Brandt, first Catholic hermit priest in several hundred years
The 97-year-old Roman Catholic hermit priest, Father Charles Brandt died Oct. 24 at the Comox Valley Hospital. This is his obituary.
LATEST UPDATE: Father Charles Brandt funeral service this Friday in Campbell River
Father Charles Brandt, the hermit monk of the Oyster River, has died at age 97
CV watershed virtual forum to explore climate change, landscape restoration
A free three-part virtual seminar will examine the power of collaboration to mobilize and respond effectively to the impacts of climate change on the Comox Valley landscape.
Sincerest best wishes, especially knowing the David vs Goliath battle you’re facing against the corporatist/ capitalist/ fascist ruling elite.
This is great news indeed. I hope the Union of BC Municipalities will pass it in September. As I understand it, there is a water extraction operation happening in the Comox Valley already. Will that have to cease? Do you know who is extracting that water? And does this mean the Nestle operation down-island will have to cease? How many water extraction operations are currently taking place on the Island, and who is operating them?
Local water for local people.
great news, very inspiring to other regions of the country.