5 hours ago
Swift News
Dawson Creek residents got a chance to speak their minds about a $100-million water pipeline proposal at an open house on Oct. 8.
The pipeline seeks to address the city's local water shortage, caused by a four-year drought in the South Peace region.
Currently, the city, and others in the region, draw drinking water from the Kiskatinaw River, about 10 kilometres west of Dawson Creek. But it has dropped to record lows, leaving the city looking to connect with another water source, further afield: The Peace River near Taylor, B.C., about 50 kilometres northeast.
The proposed pipeline would be built using an existing pipeline corridor.
Consultation for the project is required with Treaty 8 First Nations, landowners within the water line corridor, and the general public.
“It's a well-documented drought, it's not a surprise. I think any person worth their own salt could have predicted that the [Kiskatinaw] river was going to continue to decrease,” said Theran Bassett, a father, who grew up in Dawson Creek.
Bassett says he wants stricter regulation of industry water use and feels the water pipeline should be paid for by those users.
“I know oil and gas are really important to our area, but I do know they're a water hog,” Bassett said.
“Why do we keep licensing more and more water rights to industry when, clearly, this drought is getting more and more severe?”
City of Dawson Creek Mayor Darcy Dober said he was pleased with the steady flow of residents at the open house.
“I think it's critical that we look at getting a secure source for our community,” he added.
The proposed pipeline would also serve the neighbouring Village of Pouce Coupe. Its former mayor Joe Judge says the water pipeline is a timely solution to the drought and a project the community should move forward on.
“At the end of the day, we need water or we don't survive. So, we have to look at the best way of getting that and doing it as quickly, but as proper as we can,” Judge said.
