SOOKE
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The Taylor Caspersen Project on stage Dec. 21
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NEWS MIRROR YOUTHFUL REFS
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Fifteen new youth referees are trained and certified in Sooke.
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Black Press
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
C O M M U N I T Y
N E W S
M E D I A
Agreement #40110541
Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink Rural JdF residents to pay more for potable water Pirjo Raits
Sooke News Mirror
Pirjo Raits photo
Every penny counts
Three-year-old Jace and six-year-old Cael gathered all the pennies out of their piggy bank and brought it over the the Sooke News Mirror office for the food bank. A donation box has been set up at the SNM office, located at 4-6631 Sooke Road. If you can help others, the Sooke Christmas Bureau is still out fundraising for the Sooke Food Bank at local grocery stores. They are hoping to gather $25,000 in donations to feed the needy through their hamper program in Sooke and area.
Many rural residents in the Juan de Fuca Electoral Area are dependent on potable water delivery. They have no access to CRD water and rely on wells, cisterns and above ground water sources. Rural residents, without sufficient water year round, rely on trucked in water during the drier months in the year. According to the Otter Point and Shirley Resident Ratepayers Association (OPSRRA) newsletter six per cent of their members, which encompasses the rural areas of Otter Point, Shirley, Jordan River, rely on water delivery for all their water requirements and a further 30 per cent rely on it to supplement their well water or water licences. They have to purchase water from the only water supply company in the region and with a recent decision by the Juan de
a u o y h s i w we
Pirjo Raits photo
Ron Wilson fills his truck with metered water at Sooke River and Sooke Roads. Potable water will cost more for residents in rural areas who need trucked in water for household use. Fuca Water Commission to disallow water truck access to water hydrants in Sooke, it will raise the cost of 2,800 US gallons of water by $40-50. The company, South Island Water Ltd., states their delivery times and fill up time will take longer thereby necessitating an increase in water delivery fees. The Juan de Fuca Water Commission buys water from the Capital Regional District for resale to rural communities. The
JdFWC then sells the water to the water supply company. Juan de Fuca Regional Director Mike Hicks was at the water commission meeting where the CRD gave a verbal report on the issue. “I spoke strongly against their suggestion, and in favour of South Island Water,” said Hicks. “I want a full debate at the next meeting.” The next meeting of the JdFWC will be in the new year. “My argument is
s a m t s i r h c y merr
the facts. We have more than 600 families dependent on water, that’s more than the population of the Highlands. I have offered to pay the Juan de Fuca Water Commission with our gas tax, to put a (water) station in East Sooke and at the end of the Sooke water line.” He said those stations would be dedicated to potable water providers. The CRD has concerns, said Hicks and one of them is about how much water the providers are taking. He said South Island Water can put meters on their trucks and they could deal with all of the concerns JdF water would have. “We want to be able to provide potable water to rural areas… as close to the market as possible and be as affordable as we can,” said Hicks. Hicks said Councillor Herb Haldane, who also sits on the water commission, said “we’ll look into it.” Hicks feels this is a big issue and they have the water. “I’m very cognizant we can address all of the JdF Water Commission’s water concerns,” Hicks stated.
OLIVER KATZ Personal Real Estate Corporation
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and a happy new year!