Invermere Votes 2023 Invermere Councillor By-election Candidates

One of the bigger projects that Invermere will begin this year is a water security and source water study. The study aims to examine the district’s water sources, including the Paddy Ryan Reservoir — which district officials have pointed out is in the open and is surrounded by land that is not part of the district. Many Invermere residents have in the past complained about the ‘taste’ or ‘flavour’ of the district’s water. What are your thoughts about the water security and source water study specifically, and what are your thoughts about Invermere’s water supply generally?

kinds of protection and ongoing maintenance at vastly different costs.

JUANITA VIOLINI:

Water security is directly related to the type of source water. Is it surface water or is it groundwater? They require different

Surface water is hard to protect now and it’s only going to get harder and more costly. Our town’s focus should be on switching to groundwater, over a reasonable time, as a long term water source. To me, managing surface water, in the long run, is like throwing money away. The District of Invermere (DOI) has no control over the private and crown land around Goldie Creek. Future development, the many entry points where people and animals cross the creek, increasing wildfire, increasing mudslides, active ATV use, biking and hiking, and natural pathogens are all hazards to the quality of surface drinking water.

My thoughts on Invermere’s current water supply is that it has more

‘character’ than I like in my water. We would be wise to consider going more towards groundwater, before it becomes urgent that we do so. And we need to find a way to do it without charging residents another parcel tax on top of the seven or so parcel taxes we already pay on top of our property taxes and our town utilities bill. At this rate we won’t be able to afford a pot to … boil water in.

We, as a society should get away from this. The District is growing, and we need to get more proactive with these core issues.

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STEPHANIE STEVENS:

Tap water in Invermere is… an interesting flavour. And not a terribly nice one. It has been that way for as long as I can remember.

On one hand, I know water is not a renewable resource and we need to be aware of that, now more than ever. Water security is tenuous at best and we definitely take it for granted. And on that same hand, I balance the knowledge that there are a lot of people in our country and the world (and some in our valley) who do not have safe, clean drinking water. I try to remain mindful of that when I wrinkle my nose and fill up my Brita water filter. I agree that finding a new source that is not surrounded by private lands is a worthy endevour and once a safe, secure source is found, we don’t have to reinvent the wheel. We have the human resources we need locally to help guide us to a better system for health and taste. This is just the tip of the iceberg (no pun intended) on the topic of safe

GREY BRADATSCH:

The taste and appearance of Invermere’s water has been a topic of discussion for many years now. Personally, I have been very concerned as well, and is one of the reasons I would like to be elected for council. I want to see change. Supply, and security are two different topics, and need to be handled as such.

As of 2023, the district is looking ahead and recognizing that as it grows, it not only needs to deal with past and current infrastructure issues such as water supply, but a means to secure its water source(s). An up-to-date study is necessary before any infrastructure changes should commence. The last study I can find is dated 2018, and it had many recommendations.

As a councillor, I would ask that this issue stay as a priority, and that once the current study is completed, it is acted upon in a timely manner. Budgeting needs to take place, sources of funding (if any are available) need to be sought out, and work needs to start…sooner, not later.

The fact is, many residents and visitors to Invermere find the taste and odour unpalatable, and turn to single use plastic bottles for drinking water.

The district’s fresh water security is of the utmost concern to all citizens and one that we all must play a part.

The Paddy Ryan reservoir consists of surface water and is surrounded by agricultural land with potentially harmful contaminants that could enter the reservoir. Of course, the water is treated to ensure safety. However, there is a cost to treatment as well as to the quality of the water; taste, smell and colour, which has varied over the years.

The Athalmer aquifer that services the upper west side of Invermere is a stable and good source of water and we must be vigilant that it remains so. A study is essential to educate how the district can do this successfully.

Due to climate change it may also become necessary to limit our use of the water we treat and consume for unnecessary purposes. Residents’ water usage is metered and regulated, however the two biggest water users, the District of Invermere (DOI) and School District are exempt from managing their water usage. This may have to change in the future as water resources become limited.

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