Coquitlam Now - September 22, 2010

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WEDNESDAY

September 22, 2010

19

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Your source for local news, sports, weather and entertainment. www.thenownews.com

Flooding strands senior in basement John Kurucz jkurucz@thenownews.com A Maillardville woman in her 70s was trapped in four feet of water in her basement Sunday after heavy rains hit the Tri-Cities. “Her dog was paddling around inside the house and everything was starting to float,” Coquitlam Fire and Rescue chief Tony Delmonico said in an interview Tuesday. “[Crews] responded and tried to find out where the source of the water was, after they had removed the lady from the residence. The problem is, when the water gets inside there, I guess it pinned her door and she was unable to force the door open.” Delmonico said fire crews responded to seven calls early Sunday morning, and the majority of them were related to flooding in basements on Blue Mountain Street, Rochester, Gauthier and Quadling avenues. “All of them were water related,” he said. “The worstcase scenario was the fourfoot high water in the basement of the one residence. Most of them are anywhere from a few inches up to about a foot of water, mostly in basements.” Bill Susak, Coquitlam’s manager of engineering and public works, said Monday the city received more than 50 millimetres of rain on Saturday, and was awaiting reports on the amount of rain that fell on Sunday. Saturday’s rain alone eclipsed the previous benchmark of 45 mm in one day set in the 1970s. Last weekend’s totals resulted in 25 to 30 calls coming into the city within a  CONT. ON PAGE 4, see GARBAGE.

Kevin Hill/NOW

OUT IN FORCE: Tri-Cities residents defied heavy rain Sunday to run, walk, ride and roll for cancer research in four local Terry Fox runs — two of them brand new. See story and photos on Page 11. For an online photo gallery of the Terry Fox Hometown Run, visit www.thenownews.com.

Metro sewer plan will cost PoCo

Regional government is asking city to pay for upgrades and maintenance Jennifer McFee jmcfee@thenownews.com Increased costs could soon flow down the pipe and dump on Port Coquitlam taxpayers for upgrades to the city’s sewer system. Metro Vancouver is asking Port Coquitlam to pay $420,000 in one-time costs plus another $2.1 million in annual fees to implement liquid-waste management initiatives. As well, the city would need to hire staff to fill 1.65 full-time equivalent positions. Metro Vancouver’s integrated liquid waste and resource management plan identifies goals and actions for different municipalities’ liquid waste services, including wastewater collection and treatment, storm-water management and environmental

monitoring programs. While PoCo council agreed to support the plan in principle, members decided they need more time to review the implications of full sewer infrastructure replacement — which would cost an estimated $1.5 million. Annual maintenance would cost another $9,000. Long-term capital funding for sewer infrastructure replacement will be considered during 2011 budget discussions. However, Coun. Glenn Pollock said the city has no choice but to support the recommended changes. “It’s legislated so we have to go along with it,” Pollock said. The long-term goals of the sustainable region initiative are to protect public health and the environment, to use liquid waste as a resource and

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to implement affordable and collaborative system management. The plan calls for Port Coquitlam to enhance sewer-use bylaws, approve a pesticide-control bylaw and educate members of the public on how to reduce liquid waste on their own properties. In addition, PoCo will need to reduce inflow, infiltration and cross-connections on private properties. The city will also need to provide additional inspection and enforcement. As well, private property owners would need to repair or replace leaking sewer lines on their land. The regional integrated waste plan also recommends that Port Coquitlam accelerate its integrated storm-water management plans.  CONTINUED ON PAGE 8, see FUNDING SITUATION.


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