10 - Sunday, April 12, 1992 - Morth Shore News

Water quality problems continue

GVRD report notes turbidity, bacteria in water system

ROUTINE MONITORING of local reservoir drinking waiter supplies last year showed — con- tinued problems with turbid water, bacterial growth in the water distribution system and cor- rosive water.

By Michael Becker News Reporter

The concerns were outlined in a Greater Vancouver Regional District water quality control teport released last month.

Turbidity levels exceeded max- imum acceptable concentrations at both North Shore watersheds last year.

The Capilano reservoir exceeded Canadian standards for turbidity on 67 days last year. While not near the sustained turbidity levels recorded in the late 1950s and ear- ly 1960s (for example in 1956 Capilano water excceded stand-

ards for 263 days), turbidity makes it more difficult to disinfect water supplies.

Last year when both Capilano and Seymour reservoirs registered significantly turbid water levels, water quality analysts recorded the highest fecal coliform levels for the year.

Turbidity is caused by storm run-offs which result in slides and stream scouring.

The Capilano water supply did not meet U.S. Environm-atal Protection Agency standards — Canadian drinking water quality guidelines do not address max- imum acceptable concentrations for microorganisms in untreated water — for the bacteriological quality of source water during January and February in 1991.

Fecal coliform bacteria originate from the fecal material of warm-blooded animals,

Cysts of the intestinal parasite

giardia, a microorganism often originating from the beaver, were found in Capilano water intake samples last year. One sample of 13 taken showed the presence of giardia at the Capilano reservoir.

Tests at the Seymour water supply did not reveal giardia.

Giardia causes intestinal disorders in humans,

The GVRD is studying the need for additional disinfectants to im- prove the bacteriological quality of local drinking water.

Local ‘raw’ water is naturally acidic because its source is primarily rainwater and snowmelt.

Corrosive water results in the leaching of copper and lead from household plumbing.

In general the report concludes that all water sources continue to be of high quality and meet Ca- nadian guidelines except for pH {too acidic), turbidity and iron content standards.

$510,000 allotted for water review

FUNDING FOR 2 public con- sultation and = environmental review of secondary treatment of local drinking water was approved by the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GYRD) at its March 31 meeting,

By Chery! Ziola

Contriburine Writer

Amidst budgeting squabbles, GVRD members allotted the addi- tional funding of $510,000 neces- sary for the $660,000 process.

Consultation will cansist. of public meetings, shopping mall presentations, ads and handouts

to determine whether rechlorina- tion or chloramination will most effectively prevent bacteria spread in the North Shore and Lower Mainland water system,

While both treatment methods are deemed acceptable by Van- couver’s Medical Health officer Dr. John Blatherwick, they vary greatly in costs:

@chloramine’s capital costs would be $7 million;

@ rechlorination would cost $70 million,

West) Vancouver) Mayor Mark Sager said he voted against the public process or any new GVRD projects after the GVRD also ap-

EKASTER FESTIVAL

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proved an 31.2% general increase in municipal taxes at the meeting.

However, tax increases will vary slightly in each municipality depending on property values and demands on the sewage and water systems,

Peaple can’t afford another big tax hike so soon after the provin- cial hikes, Sager said.

“My concern this morning las been the overall expenditures of the GYRD. FT feel that the 11.2% increase that the GVRD > has im- posed on residents of the Lower Mainland is out of touch with the

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