Tainted water: election issue

Photo: Contributed

Frustrated Spallumcheen residents on Hullcar aquifer water hope to make their plight an election issue.

“We are coming up on three years under a water advisory for unsafe levels of nitrates in our drinking water,” said Al Price, spokesperson for the Save the Hullcar Aquifer Team.

The latest independent analysis, commissioned by SHAT, shows that cancer causing nitrate levels are increasing, Price said.

Samples taken by the water provider, Steele Springs, as well as the environment and forests ministries were included in the chart which was done by Lin Hammill, a retired mathematics professor from Kwantlen University.

“The graph shows a year over year rise in nitrate levels of more than half a parts-per-million (ppm) each year. From January 2014 until January 2017, nitrate levels have increased to 12 ppm.

“When it was clear nitrate levels were increasing, (Interior Health) claimed that there is no evidence to prove nitrate levels at 10 ppm to 13 ppm are a health risk. This ignores IHA’s detailed list of health risks associated with long-term exposure to nitrates above 10 ppm. The government concedes that nitrates above 13 ppm can cause Blue Baby Syndrome, where babies can die within hours.”

Armed with these results, Price said local residents will ensure questions are asked during provincial all-candidates' debates.

Shuswap MLA Greg Kyllo is the current representative for the area.

“He sounds sympathetic but hasn't been able to make anything happen,” said Price, who added that NDP candidate Sylvia Lindgren had already been in touch with the group.

NDP critics have visited the area over the past year, demanding the government take action to help the more than 300 people who get their water from the tainted source.

The group blames the problem on a large dairy operation that sprayed its fields with effluent.