City of Armstrong will listen to water woes

By Roger Knox – Vernon Morning Star – May 20, 2012 

The City of Armstrong is willing to help a Spallumcheen water system improve its water but with conditions.

The Meighan Creek Water System has twice asked the city to hook up to Spallumcheen Pleasant Valley Water District line that receives city water.

The first time came after Interior Health insisted the system improve its water, which has been under a boil water advisory for more than 20 years.

The second request came at the end of April, after steady rains caused a flood and mud slide down Meighan Creek leaving 17 homes with no water for five days.

“We believe that safe, reliable water will improve and maintain good health for our families,” wrote seven Meighan Creek system users in a letter to Armstrong council. “We are requesting your help to hook up to the nearby city water mains.”

In a reply to the Meighan Creek users, the city has said it will be undertaking a water supply study this year to follow up a 2010 water source assessment report.

“The objective of the study would be to determine the city’s ability to supply those customers we are currently obligated to supply, and planning for growth, before considering changing allotments to existing outside users or adding new users outside our boundaries,” wrote city administrator Patti Ferguson.

The city is willing to sit down with Meighan Creek, the Pleasant Valley Water District and the Township of Spallumcheen to review the situation, but insists it will not facilitate nor take the lead on implementing such a meeting.

“The discussion will have to include a conversation about who intends to contribute to the costs of having a city taxpayer funded master water plan consider the needs of new users in the township,” wrote Ferguson.

The city has said it will not participate in a meeting that does not include the township, Pleasant Valley Water District and Meighan Creek’s water quality officer.

Armstrong council voted unanimously to support Ferguson’s letter to Meighan Creek representatives.