Hegler Fuming over Duteau Creek water

Another good letter to the editor of The Morning Star, published August 17, 2011:

Who in their right mind would spend millions of dollars to treat water to Interior Health standards and then pump it on to the land as irrigation water?  John Hegler, Coldstream resident

Who indeed!
But we're already irrigating with chlorinated water, so why not spend another $20 million to filter water at the one year old Duteau Creek water treatment plant, and then we can irrigate with even better water.

But we digress from Hegler's letter...

"As a Kalamalka Lake water customer for more than 50 years, I find it deplorable that I was forced onto Duteau Creek water.  In my opinion, this plant is the most ill-conceived and opulent spending of taxpayers' money, as it is turning out to be nothing more than a white elephant.

We have invested $29 million in this plant, $6 to $8 million for operating costs, and now Interior Health wants us to spend another $20 million to upgrade to their standards.  In my opinion, the biggest mistake that was made was that there were no twin waterlines, one for residential and one for irrigation purposes.

Who in their right mind would spend millions of dollars to treat water to Interior Health standards and then pump it on to the land as irrigation water?

It's probably the most expensive water in Canada.  The high water rates we pay for this plant run by Greater Vernon Water and we, the taxpayers, are paying the top brass well in excess of $100,000 yearly salaries.  In return, we are receiving continual water advisories.  Weren't residents left with the impression the need for these advisories would virtually disappear if this plant was built?

Seventy-five per cent of all water use is for agricultural and commercial use, 25 per cent for residential use.  We put water restrictions on the 25 per cent usage, charge an arm and a leg, are told to boil our water for most of the summer and then they try to brainwash us that there is a shortage of water.  If that were true, wouldn't there be a moratorium on house construction?  How can you pat yourself on the back and give yourself a raise for doing such an outstanding job?

You can fool some of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time."
John Hegler

"We've brow-beaten Greater Vernon Water continually," admits Kia, "and I think it's time we pounded on Interior Health's door to tell them they're taking their government jobs much too seriously.  We aren't Walkerton Ontario!"

You may just have a point there, Kia.

It's one government agency (Interior Health) telling another government agency (Greater Vernon Water) to meet their NEW standards.

Akin to the make-work projects for which government (at all levels) has become famous.

"With the fooled taxpayers in the middle, paying for it," adds Kia.