Concerns about a proposed Coldstream septic system's potential threat to Greater Vernon drinking water have resurfaced, with local governments urging the province to improve the wastewater regulations that govern such systems.
The proposed septic system is on the VegPro property on Ricardo Road. The large agricultural company is proposing to add two new housing buildings that would accommodate 96 additional seasonal workers at the site, and add them to an existing septic system.
Greater Vernon Water staff about the proposed project, including that the septic system is immediately next to Coldstream Creek, which flows into Kalamalka Lake and is a key drinking water source for the area. Staff said in a September 2024 report that drinking water quality could be affected if the project goes ahead.
A was launched in January in response to the report, echoing concerns about local drinking water safety and calling on Interior Health and the province to review the project. The petition has more than 3,700 signatures as of June 13.
The issue exposed gaps in the regulatory scheme overseeing septic systems, with neither the Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO), Interior Health, the District of Coldstream or the Ministry of Environment saying they have the authority to approve or not approve the septic system in response to inquiries from The Morning Star in January.
Coldstream Mayor Ruth Hoyte, on Thursday, June 12, expressed how confounding it's been to see the whole constellation of regulatory bodies shirk the responsibility of approving the septic system.
"If Greater Vernon Water is unable to approve such, Interior Health indicated they do not approve such, and the District of Coldstream香蕉视频直播檚 involvement is to issue building permits, but unable to, until proof of water is permitted, we asked the question, who does approve?" Hoyte told The Morning Star.
VegPro's septic system has highlighted for Coldstream officials the need to modernize wastewater and sewerage regulations. That's why the district recently put forward a motion to the Southern Interior Local Government Association (SILGA) calling for updated regulations. That motion passed and will now move up to the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM).
"One of our concerns, acknowledging we do have a responsibility to ensure our drinking water is safe and protected, (is) we do not have the tools to approve items such as septic systems. There is a gap within several ministries and their regulations," Hoyte said in an email, adding a letter has been sent to the Ministry of Environment to have them address the issue.
"Currently we have not received word on who can approve (the septic system and others)," said Hoyte, who is putting pressure on the province.
"Myself, I have lobbied several MLAs for their support. We await word as of this date."
Hoyte said Coldstream will be joined by the City of Vernon, the District of Lake Country and the Columbia Shuswap Regional District in submitting a joint resolution to UBCM to request that the province undertake a "comprehensive review to modernize municipal wastewater and sewerage systems regulations."
Updating the regulations, which hasn't been done since their initial enactment, is an action that would affect many jurisdictions beyond Coldstream, Hoyte said.
The issue has caught the attention of Vernon Coun. Brian Guy brought up the topic at the end of Monday's (June 9) council meeting, saying VegPro's plan to add two new housing units to the existing septic field is worrisome.
"The professionals at Greater Vernon Water were concerned so they hired a couple of different independent consultants who both confirmed the validity of our concerns that the existing septic is not good enough to handle two more units," Guy said.
He added complaints filed by Greater Vernon Water to Engineers and Geoscientists BC and requests for comment from multiple ministries have "temporarily stalled" the project.
"The fundamental thing here is that one of our two water sources, which is Kal Lake, provides drinking water for 70,000 people, is at risk if there香蕉视频直播檚 a leakage or a failure of any kind into Coldstream Creek, which is right upstream from Kal Lake and very close to the intake. So we香蕉视频直播檇 have a serious problem," Guy said.
Drinking water protection is a bit of a sore spot in recent North Okanagan history.
Guy mentioned the RDNO has gotten into trouble over drinking water protection failures in the past. He said the regional district was charged and convicted for "not doing enough to protect drinking water a few years back."
RDNO utilities general manager Zee Marcolin confirmed the conviction, saying in 2010 a Greater Vernon Water well became contaminated from an illegal spreading of manure on a snow-covered field, which made its way into the well through an "unknown drainage system." After a lengthy court case, the RDNO was found guilty in 2012 for not providing potable water and allowing contamination to enter the drinking water system.
"Since the conviction, the RDNO has strived to identify and reduce potential risks to our water sources through substantial capital works investments, installing high levels of treatment, decommissioning facilities, and implementing programs such as the Cross Connection Control, water quality sampling, dam safety, and watershed protection to improve the safety this invaluable resource," Marcolin said.
"The RDNO takes the safety of our community very seriously and does not take the responsibility to provide clean, safe drinking water to our residents lightly."
Interior Health told The Morning Star Thursday that under current regulations, the design and installation of sewage systems is not the responsibility of the health authority and instead rests solely with engineers and certified technologists.
While not legally required, Interior Health environmental health officers can review sewage systems for health hazards, such as a system being located within 30 metres of a well.
The health authority said it did exactly that with the VegPro septic system and denied a filing for the system in January. A new filing was submitted in March, and was accepted by Interior Health in May. A spokesperson for the health authority stressed that this did not amount to Interior Health giving a stamp of approval for the project to move forward.
It remains unclear who's job it is to allow the project to proceed, and the long-term status of the project remains up in the air.
A VegPro representative could not be reached for comment on Friday.
