For Immediate Release

Contact:  Doug McFee     604-534-6727

“There are things that we can do now about the falling water table in the Hopington aquifer,” says Doug McFee of the Salmon River Enhancement Society.  “The big questions are whether we can address the water issues quickly enough to avoid damage to the Salmon River and whether we can address the issues adequately without having to introduce water metering,” McFee adds. 

SRES is hosting a water forum on Thursday, November 5 to discuss what can be done.  The forum follows a very successful water forum last fall and will be the second in what SRES plans to make a yearly event.  The forum will be held at DW Poppy Secondary 23752 52 Avenue in the dramnasium/small gym at 7 pm.

“Jim Clark, local well driller and groundwater expert, estimates that the Hopington aquifer is losing 2,500 gallons per minute.” says Mr. McFee.  “Jim will speak about this and about artesian wells.  We think that capping wasteful flows from artesian wells may address as much as 40% of the issue,” continues Mr. McFee. 

“We are also fortunate to have two expert speakers with provincial and international experience,” says Mr. McFee.   Ted Van der Gulik of the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands and Hans Schreier of UBC are both well known water experts...   Both speakers have seen water issues successfully addressed elsewhere although in most instances success has been achieved with metering.  

Mr. Van Der Gulik is an expert on increased agricultural efficiency while reducing water usage.  “The majority of water drawn from the Hopington aquifer is used for agricultural purposes,” says Mr. McFee, “so reducing the amount used and the amount lost to evaporation is the other big issue besides artesian wells”.   Mr. Gulik can also speak to improving infiltration of rainwater into the ground to recharge the aquifer.  “Infiltration is the third immediate issue that we could address to stabilize the water table,” adds Mr. McFee. 

Dr. Schreier will speak about metering, about other ways to stabilize the water table and about water quality issues.  The original reason for the moratorium on development in the Hopington aquifer area was high nitrate levels in well water caused by excess manure and by nitrates from septic tanks.  This problem has continued since being discovered in the early 1990’s. 

Mr. Schreier also has extensive evidence of the negative effects of development on a watershed.

“We are concerned that some people may look to bringing in water to the watershed and developing the area”, says Mr. McFee.  “Development typically makes the problem worse rather than better,“ McFee concludes. 

The forum will feature presentations from the three speakers followed by questions from the floor.