__NEWS _ Water: more than turning on the tap Robyn Chambers ee Peninsula News Review Central Saanich is Jook- ing at reinventing its Water Advisory Task Force. _ The task force initially had the mandate to outline a general philosophy of water management in the commu- nity, identify a process for determining priorities for in- frastructure expansion, to address. water issues throughout the municipal- ity, discuss fire protection is- sues and alternatives, pro- vide suggestions for infor- mation needs, provide guid- ance in soliciting public in- put and create a framework for dealing with water is- sues. But after. its creation in “1998, the task force got side tracked with the divisive is- - sue of water . quality on Senanus Drive, and how to deal with it. Now, however, council and task force 1 mem- bers are considering a new direction for the force.’ “What! foresee the task ‘ force r now doing is is being re: Water” “i eWe monitor to inake's sur e > that the disinfection system i is operating correctly, which includes staffing.the water plant 24 hours a day,” he said. Water samples are collected’on.a daily basis to ensure eS that they:are bacteria-free. vitalized around the goal to present council with options to: make Central Saanich ‘a model municipality that ex- ists at the rural/urban inter- face around. water,” said task force chair Michael ‘M’Gonigle. “It’s not just an issue of safe water, but an equally important one of water effi- ciency, the health of ecosys- tems and the abuse that we subject our water systems to in terms of ‘habitat de- struction, pollution, acid rain deposition, and. ineffi- ciencies,” he said. M’Gonigle sees’ several © areas of improvement for water use and water quality in the municipality. ’ He considers the use of green _ infrastructure’ for agriculture which ‘includes _the use of reclaimed water; * as well as exploring the pos- . ‘sibilities of aquifer water, : private wells, new fire fi ght- “Ing techniques and commiu- nity cisterns, as well as the .- most’ ‘productive. way to deal with storm water. run-- off. _ CONT INUED_ FROM. PAGE 10° building impervious © sur- “What types of. tech- niques are available for storm water retention, ‘so water flows out more gradu- _ally through streams and a more natural style system?” he questioned. “There is a whole bunch of industrial waste water “that is going into storm wa- ter and ditches and is very _ polluting: So what sort. of things can be done in indus- trial areas, such as Keating; -and what. types: of tech- - niques can be:used to en- sure that there is ground water recharge?” M’Gonigle points to the problem of impervious sur- faces throughout the mu- nicipality, which add to the amount of waste water run- off. : “You get new parking lo lots and. they are all paved over and_.that is. bad. We-really “have to hit the brakes on the : building of all sorts of im-.. pervious surfaces.” McGonigle believes new techniques and bylaws can be used. to put a stop to faces, and.to encourage sur- face systems that recharge © the aquifer, rather. than drain it into the storm sewer. : “Interlocking paving stones allow water to filter through, or down. spouts that go into the. ground rather than into a sewer line. There is a range of ar-. chitectural and. building techniques that should be explored,” he said. He maintains that there is a lot that can be done to ini- prove water management in the municipality with time and a concerted effort. “We have an unusual mu- -nicipality, being 20 minutes from the downtown core of the provincial capital,” -he said. “Once we start devel- oping this — who knows?” But he also points out the danger of the task force be- coming political. “The key to me for this work is really. keeping «it~ non-political. The task force | - is really innovative rather ~ than being pulled into , Polity ical issues,” he said. ‘Municipalities also. participate in. an ‘annual figghing-b pro- ~ gram to ensure that.their mains are ‘clear, However, Irwin does note that there | are a number. of dis: eases and outbreaks that can occur within the. system. : “They occur infrequently and usually involve some kind of intestinal upset, and are either caused by bacteria, viruses or parasites.” In 1988, the water system suf fered a problem with taste and odor. In 1994 and 1995 there was an outbreak of toxo- plasmosis. According to Irwin the Greater Victoria water system i is the second largest in the province, with approximately 35 | million gallons drawn from it every day. even! the mallest drip c or cooking; » e, check for leaks from faucets and pipe irip can waste as muchas 75-La day; © Instead of: running the tap, to:get cold’ water, keep.a’ * bottle of drinking water in the refriger ators ce i * Use baths instead of shower: sas they: use less water : then a'shower. Showers use 11 (0.20: L'per minute; , *-@ Don't use \ water fr om the hot water tap for drinking © Never drink water straight ‘rom a lake or river; © If you live in-an older home that has le ad pipes, Ae 6 UY REIMCHE PHOTO: i Janelle Caiveley, 9, of Victoria is already known. to: BS -. schoolmates as: ‘the rose lady.’ The young 1OSG-_, ‘ grower attended. the Peninsular Rose Club's Fest- val of Roses: on Sunday to compare —~ and to” - choose new yoses: ‘to Brow in her garden. ; Antique. ‘Brass : Passage Set IS SIDNEY’S ONLY > CLUB KENO COFFEE SHOP : Come & Play Club Keno. and Enjoy Our Breakfast Special 3 Eggs, Pan Fries & Toast For $3.99 Homemade Pie; Cinnamon Buns, Tarts, Etc. Beacon Plaza Next to CIBC 7 - 4:30 Mon-Sat PGs) Anon Pek pean is treated:to avoid sickness: suchas cholera and typhoid... ‘Retirement party ls CHOPPERS DRUG MART. E 40 Burnside Ra Beacon Plaza — Deep Cove ele mentary school is inviting those who have i Victoria Shiney : been conneeted with the school lo join them fora reception — > _ duly 40 « to celebrate Shannon Greenway's retirement, The recep tion will be held. Friday, June 28 from 3:0 pan. 5:80 pm, ~-at St, John's United Church, are thing inthe morning, run your water, fora couple of nin: “utes or until it gets cold before you drink it; Ohio o In most cities and towns drinking water from the tap’ “which are caused by | hacteri ia, vir uses or pan asiles found, naturally i in water, 3 “VOLUNTEERS NEEDED | IMMEDIATELY! CHILD CARE e Uae . : Peninsula ig, Community, __ Services "55a 4402 or 655:5 5319. DRIVERS f RIE NDI. y VISITING De ed mal van 0 phi wisity, SCREENING If InNO’ ; Consequently ‘wo, mus “© JOB COACHES | SIDNEY. THRIFT SHOPS i you con donate some of. sou line please call...