YOUR HO
46 YEARS
PAPER WS
TOWN NE E M
THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2005 36 PAGES
Star ALDERGROVE
DOWN TO THE WIRE Provincial election campaign heats up as May 17 voting day closes in.
SEE PAGE 9
All eyes on water Elementary school wells monitored By AL IRWIN MetroValley News
Water wells that serve nine rural schools are in full compliance with the Drinking Water Act,according to a report to Langley school trustees. The report was also received on April 12,but trustees had asked for a sample of an annual report for an individual site. The trustees felt the April 12 report was too brief,and though the results of the tests are posted on the website,(http://www.sd35.bc.ca) it was difficult to access,and should be submitted in written form. The Drinking Water Act was proclaimed in 2002. Prior to that, the school district sampled water from its rural wells quarterly,and submitted the results annually. Now the district samples four times per month for fecal and total coliform,and annually for metals at all nine locations. South Fraser Health has worked with the district to ensure full compliance with the act,the report says. There are three categories of unacceptable test results.Type 1 involves minor readings which require sanitizing within seven days,but no system shutdown.The district should anticipate four to five readings per year in this category. In 2003, there were no problem readings in any category at the district’s nine wells. At County Line in 2004 there were three Type 1 test results,one at Lochiel. Type 2 results indicate total coliforms or overgrowth count readings that require cautionary boil-water advisories while repairs to cisterns, well or distribution type take place. The district should expect one such reading every one or two years. Currently there is a type two situation at County Line school,the result of a minor hole in the cistern joint,which has been repaired. The district is waiting for Fraser Health to lift the advisory. Type 3 reports are fecal coliform readings that require a range of actions and are rare, occurring once every five to 10 years.There have been none in the past three years. The district has never had to close a school or have a total water system shut down. The report says there have only been drinking restrictions,while the systems are sanitized,flushed and repaired. In these cases,bottled water has been provided to the schools.
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DOWN, BUT NOT OUT HARRY HUNT PHOTO
Scott Wise was grounded by this tackle but the Aldergrove Secondary senior rugby boys went on to win the valley league season with a 19-0 victory over archrivals Brookswood, a feat matched by Aldergrove’s senior girls’ team with a 70-0 win over Brookswood girls. Both Aldergrove teams are now headed for the provincials. See stories, photos, pages 23 and 25.
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