Treating the Public with Disdain

...a not uncommon practice from bureaucrats at Greater Vernon Water, akin to the way they treat elected officials of the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee.

Following last winter's failure of the $70 million borrowing referendum to further bureaucrats' plans for the Master Water Plan, you'd think GVW engineers might actually want to ask the public substantive questions in a "public water survey" conducted scarcely nine months later.

But noooooo, you'd be wrong.

They don't want to know the public's reasons for turning down the referendum.

Instead, bureaucrats have--with this survey--summarily answered a question with another question.
Or 11 pages of questions, as is the case with the water survey.

Survey questions are repeated immediately below, for shock value.
Shock?

Yes, thinking people will be shocked at the survey's tone.
Entirely ignoring anything important that relates to bigger water issues, the tone is decidedly guilt-inducing and points squarely toward residential water users.

Here we go: (some questions edited for brevity).

Where do you go to seek more info on how to take care of your lawn?
At my home I have the following in place to conserve drinking water (list includes lo-flush toilets, lo-flo showerheads, drought-tolerant plants, reuse of grey water, rain barrels, high efficiency washing machine, irrigation timer).
How likely are you to purchase a water conservation device listed above if rebates were available?
Do you think it's possible to have an attractive yard while also conserving water?
If you've sought info on how to conserve water in your yard...have you changed your practices based on this new info?
Are you interested in learning more or implementing outdoor water conservation opportunities by...visiting demo sites, home visit water audit, professional landscape/irrigation design, workshops, factsheets?
Are you aware of your allowed watering days?
Do you have a septic system?
Which measures do you employ to decrease pollution in stormwater from reaching storm drains? (list includes, limiting use of salt on pavement in winter, keeping street gutters/storm drains clear of leaves and debris, direct downspouts to lawn versus driveway, dispose of pet waste in garbage, collect motor oil, paint, etc. and dispose at facility);
Herbicides and pesticides can end up in lakes/rivers because "people often use up to 50 times more fertilizer than they need to."  What yard practices are you willing to adopt to protect water quality? (list includes grow native plants, reduce irrigation allowing lawn to grow to at least 2-3 inches, no-mow strip 5 meter riparian area, not use chemical pesticides/herbicides/fertilizers; use compost as slow-release fertilizer; use rain barrel or rain garden to divert storm water.)
Water flowing over pavement picks up oil, debris, contaminants from roof and driveway.  Permeable driveways allow water to seep into soil.  How likely are you to replace pavement with a permeable layer?
Is stormwater runoff pollution a major environmental concern?
Did you know sewage plants are meant to only remove body wastes and toilet paper?  Flushing anything else can cause problems for treatment systems.
Are you concerned about any of the following issues/impacts on our drinking water? (List includes:  Pesticide/chemical fertilizers by homeowners or farmers; livestock access to water bodies, and their manure, Goose/wildfowl feces; improper disposal of pet feces; stormwater pollution from urban areas; septic system leaks; logging in watershed; motorized rec activity in watershed, inc. ATVs/Quads,Motorboats).
Did you know GV water is not filtered?
GV water has 2 treatment barriers at each of its main water sources and uses a combination of dissolved air floatation and chlorine, and chlorine and UV.
Is your water quality adequate?
Do you feel filtration is necessary to create safe water?
Have there been any noticeable changes in your drinking water quality in 5 years?
What info sources teach you about water issues? (Newspaper, internet, radio, TV, friends/family)
Personal care products (shampoos, cleansers/soaps may include Triclosan, common in anti-bacterial products, contributing to antibiotic resistance.  Plastic micro-beads can plug fishgills.  How likely are you to avoid products containing Triclosan and micro-beads?
Laundry detergent and dishsoaps contain phosphates, triggering weed growth and algae blooms.  How likely are you to switch to phosphate-free products?
Are you a pet owner? (ie. horses, dogs, cats and fish).
Car washes collect wastewater, using a car wash or washing car over grass reduces pollution.  How likely are you to use a car wash or wash your vehicle over grass?
CWF (Canadian Wildlife Federation) quote: re seven times more pollution comes from our cars each year than the amount of oil spilled in the Exxon Valdez disaster."  Use kitty litter or a cloth to absorb spills...dispose in the garbage;  
Do you have a hot tub or pool;
Check leak indicator on water meter to determine leaky faucets or toilets.
OBWB (Okanagan Basin Watr Board) quote concerning the Okanagan's high risk for future water shortages...dry climate and lowes per capita water supply in Canada.  How concerned are you?
How concerned are you re Zebra and Quagga mussels?
OBWB milfoil has so far cost $10 million to remove, whereas invasive mussels estimated to cost $43 million annually to manage;
Canada goose population...the public who feed the birds contribute to the problem as it keeps the geese here...leading to "lower aesthetic quality of parks, golf courses, and lawns".

"I won't ask who wrote that abject drivel," offers Kia.


Wow...the last survey question indicates bureaucrats -- finally -- give a tinker's damn about 'lower aesthetics of parks, golf courses and lawns' because of goose poop, albeit not because golf courses and lawn irrigation has become too expensive! 

Correct disposal is in the garbage...

What a missed opportunity for bureaucrats to discover why the referendum failed.

Proof they don't want to know what the public thinks.