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| Saturday brought chapter three for Mayor Lee Brain's City water updates |
The lengthy commentary starts off by tracing much of the same material of the previous two missives, noting the background to the shift to the secondary water supply of two years ago and how Prince Rupert is facing infrastructure challenges like many other communities.
One imagines however, that residents of Prince Rupert will be hoping ours is not one of the communities that have faced the need to boil their water for years, as the mayor makes note of in his review of how we are not alone in our troubles.
To begin edition three of the Water chronicles, Mr. Brain first makes note of how when taking office he and council began to address the water infrastructure issues for the community.
The first thing we did upon being elected at the end of 2014 was begin to address our Water infrastructure, which has also unfortunately contributed to the current issue.
Though to be correct and to expand on that theme of addressing the issue, Mr. Brain should have perhaps also noted that back in 2014 the previous council led by Mayor Jack Mussallem had set some of that planning in motion towards the city water supply requirements (see here and here.)
As for the current situation facing the community, part of the Saturday notes from Mr. Brain observed that it was from that first stage work on the water supply file which has led to the current boil water notice.
He then explores some of the frustration in the community when it comes to the issue and the response to it from some of the city's residents.
I ran for Mayor to fix the problems in our community - and this is exactly what we’re doing. It’s just unfortunate timing and a series of weather events that has caused this situation – which is frustrating for us as well. No one wants this, I get that. We are all equally impacted by this situation.
I wish there was a button I could press to fix this immediately - but there is not. However, how we treat each other during this process reflects on who we are as a community - and to be frank: it’s not necessary to tear each other apart over this issue. You can be upset and frustrated, but some of the comments being made are simply unwarranted, and many completely untrue unfortunately.
For the majority who have expressed their understanding and support, we appreciate your continued patience in this matter.
The passage makes it clear that there's no easy fix to the situation and reissues the call for patience from city residents, however it does not indicate what comments that are seemingly circulating around the community that the Mayor considers untrue.
Nor does the latest update outline what options or resources that the city may be able to call upon to reduce the impact on the community, other than to wait for the test results to deliver the all clear and for the Woodworth Dam to be built, allowing for a return to the primary source of water.
Mr. Brain does appear to deliver some new information in his Facebook presentation, offering up how the City has increased the number of tests (though not indicating by how many) above what Northern Health recommends.
There isn't however any indication if the City plans to release the findings and post them to the City website for the public to review.
And for some residents, the decision to add additional testing to the city's regular regimen might be a move that offers up the question of why that was not done when we switched over to the secondary source two years ago, when the work first began on the water supply project.
The Mayor does note that city staff is in contact with the Province of British Columbia and that meetings are planned to discuss the current situation, along with the need for funding for the city's plans for a water treatment facility
Staff have been in constant contact with the Province and have high-level meetings lined up in January in Victoria regarding our current Boil Water situation and funding for the last phase of the water project (treatment).
However, as we noted on Friday, much of the plans for that water treatment project were focused on waste and storm water issues, making for the need for a bit more information from City Council as to how the city's long range treatment plans would address drinking water issues in the community.
For those looking for an idea as to when the Boil Notice may come to an end, the answer remains somewhat unclear.
Indications from the Saturday statement seem to suggest that a return to normal use of the city's drinking water will not take place until multiple clear samples are returned in succession.
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| For now the Boil Water order remains in effect for Prince Rupert |
We are awaiting multiple ‘clear’ samples to return in succession before we can give the all clear. This is not a unilateral process, and must be approved by Northern Health to ensure public health standards are met.
The good news is that Northern Health has not received any registered illnesses as a result of the water.
Saturday's message concludes with a preview of the January 14th Council session, when City staff has been scheduled to present a technical report that the Mayor states will answer many of the community's questions.
Though there is no indication if that the regularly scheduled public council session will break with its protocol and allow for questions from the public at next week's meeting.
The Mayor also had a Post Script to his latest notes, returning to his posting a bit later in the day to offer up thanks to the District of Port Edward for allowing residents to make use of their water supply during the Boil Notice, though he also makes note of the current disagreement on tax sharing as part of his thank you note.
PS - I’d also like to thank Port Edward for opening their taps to our community. Although we have our disagreements in respect to the Ridley Island Tax Sharing Agreement, over the years both communities have been there to support each other in times of need and crisis and it’s sincerely appreciated at this time!
You can review the full text from the latest commentary from the Mayor here.
For reasons only known to the Mayor, Council and city staff, the nature of these information releases of what seemingly are official statements from the City of Prince Rupert, remains purely a Facebook presentation.
Delivered mainly through the Mayor's political portal, a forum which also includes much of the way of praise for his work from his very loyal group of followers through the comments section.
Those that don't follow Facebook, or have no interest in Social media or becoming followers, remain a little less informed on what is a very important issue, than those that spend their day keeping up to date on the Mayor's social media posts and that's something that the City really should attempt to address.
Information related to such important facets of civic governance should also be delivered through the official City of Prince Rupert website which is supposed to provide basic information for the public on major issues such as the current boil water notice, without the need to wade through additional commentary, whether positive or negative.
For issues such as whether or not we can drink our water today, the City's website should be the first vehicle for the delivery of updated information.
A destination that offers more of what should be the true focus of the discussion and the delivery of the facts of the situation, while not framing the required information in a political setting.
For a look at the ongoing story of Prince Rupert's Boil water order see our archive page here.
Further notes related to Discussion themes at Prince Rupert City Council can be found on our Council archive page.
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