Frustrations over water rules in Black Diamond boiled over during an open house to provide residents with details on a water conservation bylaw last week.
More than a dozen residents expressed concerns at a July 10 open house about ongoing water restrictions in the community that prevent them from watering plants and lawns, washing driveways and vehicles and request they use their washing machines, showers and dishwashers sparingly.
The open house was held in the municipal building to inform residents of the Town’s water conservation land use bylaw, including a list of penalties for residents not complying with the restrictions as high as $1,500, approved at a June council meeting.
“There are a lot of pissed off people,” said Lynne Mason. “I’m not putting up with another summer like this or I’m moving. All we want is an end in sight.”
Mason said she attended the open house to get some answers about the water situation in Black Diamond, including when the water restrictions and fire ban will be lifted.
Water restrictions and a fire ban were implemented following the 2013 June flood, which washed away the town’s water treatment plant, resulting in Turner Valley supplying both communities with water despite losing all but one water well.
With temperatures around 30°C last week, Mason said many people are frustrated they can’t water their lawns or run the sprinkler for their children.
She added some people are disregarding the restrictions and washing their vehicles in their front yards.
Mason is also frustrated with two Turner Valley residents who are appealing the construction of a water infiltration gallery in the Sheep River as an additional water source due to their concerns about its proximity to septic tanks and a former dumpsite near the Turner Valley Gas Plant.
“They’re appealing and appealing and appealing the conditions of the water,” she said. “These two people are ultimately affecting 6,000 residents. We get no reduction in our water bills and now we are paying for this. Will they be billed for part of it?”
Mike Bom, who has lived in Black Diamond for two years, said the water situation should have been solved by now and residents still shouldn’t be on water restrictions a year later.
“My overall concern is what seems to be a lack of progress,” he said. “It’s been over 12 months since this happened. It’s over a year later and millions of dollars later and we are no further ahead. It’s just frustrating. I work construction and I don’t understand why it’s taking so long.”
Black Diamond Mayor Sharlene Brown said she understands residents’ frustrations, and that the Towns are doing what they can to get the restrictions lifted as soon as possible.
“We all want to see the restrictions lifted,” she said.
“Everybody is trying the best they can to get these things lifted as fast as they can.”
Brown said engineers had to wait for warmer climates before searching for new water sources after all but one water well in Turner Valley was damaged in the flood.
Once the wells are ready for production, they need approval by Alberta Environment before they can operate, which could take weeks, she said.
Two water sources have already been approved and two more are awaiting approval.
“It’s not like drilling a well in somebody’s backyard,” she said. “You need to find a well that’s going to produce enough to be able to serve the population that we have.
People have to understand there is a lot of work that has to be done before we start pumping water. All of those things take time.”
Brown said three newsletters were distributed to residents’ mailboxes explaining the water situation in the last year.
Some residents at the open house complained the letters are a waste of money and provide no new information.
Brown agrees some of the information is repetitive, such as informing residents of the water restrictions, but said there is also some new information provided to update residents on the status of the water situation, she said.
“The front page was kind of the same,” she said. “There is some reiteration that needs to go out when we’re talking about water restrictions.”
As for a definite date for when the restrictions will be lifted, Brown said no one knows for sure.
“Everyone wants a date but we don’t know a date,” she said. “Engineers, Alberta Environment, everybody that’s involved is doing what they can.”
Betty MacKinnon, who moved to Black Diamond last spring, said the water restrictions have had little affect on her as she was already conscious with her water usage previous to moving to town.
MacKinnon said she attended the meeting to get more information on the situation.
“I asked a lot of questions and I feel I’m much better informed,” she said. “My heart goes out to the people who had to go through this for a year.”
