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Water woes add up

Squamish’s per capita consumption a fiscal thorn
1526water
From the Faucet to your Wallet Leaky taps are just one example of problem fixtures, all of which can run up a municipality's infrastructure costs

Water consumption in Squamish is way above the national average, and, says Councillor Patricia Heintzman, the cost to infrastructure is unsustainable, especially at a time when the district is mired in budgetary stress.

According to Heintzman, per person/per day usage in Squamish is above 700 litres. The national average, meanwhile, is about 430; the national average in metered communities is 260. The cost of digging a new well, after all relevant work is completed, is about $10 million, she said.

She broached the issue during a recent strategy session discussion on the capital budget, saying dual flush toilets and water metering are part of the answer to Squamish’s ongoing growth.

Mayor Ian Sutherland set up a discussion date for July, adding that a staff report on funding procurement options for dual flush toilets throughout the district should be penned for September.

“Well, I hate to say it,” Heintzman said, “but I’ve heard this before. We keep getting support from council and staff, but a year later, we’re at the same place.”

In January, Heintzman tabled a motion requiring staff to draft a bylaw requiring new developments to limit faucet and shower flow rates, as well as toilet and urinal flush volumes. Further, the bylaw would require new construction to install dual flush toilets and other low flow systems. The motion, which was carried in January, surfaced again in February. Again, it was carried. However, the bylaw has yet to be drafted by the district’s community development department.

And yet, the district as a whole is aware of the technology. During this year’s budget process, the Squamish Library was given $6,170 for dual flush toilets and a new hot water tank.

According to Heintzman, most people use the washroom five times a day — three liquid, and one solid. Generally speaking, a flush involves between 13 and 18 litres of water, with some toilet tanks holding as much as 24. Dual flush toilets can go as low as three litres. The Town of Battleford, Saskatchewan, is also in a state of increased development. According to Mayor Chris Odishaw, the horizon holds 30 per cent growth, and infrastructure — especially water infrastructure — has to keep up.

“Immediately, we undertook to consider the possibility that, instead of adding 30 per cent capacity, we could actually save 30 per cent of our usage,” he said. “Just because Saskatchewan has lots of water does not make sense as to why we would continue to use it, and the costs associated with treating, pumping, distribution and dealing with sewage.”

And so they plan on changing some 3,000 water fixtures, from toilets to showerheads to aerators. After consulting with industry reps, the town was quoted a price of $2.5 million-$3 million. However, they worked the cost down to $1 million. Odishaw’s council will approve the project at a cost to the municipality of no more than $500,000. To make up the short fall, he went to the province, explored funding sources there, and wound up with $300,000. He’s now $200,000 away from his goal, money he hopes to leverage from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, which provides low-interest loans and grants from its Green Municipal Fund.

During a phone interview with Pique Newsmagazine , Odishaw offered to visit Squamish, meet with Heintzman and tutor her on Battleford’s strategy.

Closer to home, Sechelt has been using dual flush toilets, thanks to an initiative launched by the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD).

“We have two programs running,” said Brett Wildeman, water conservation assistant with the SCRD. “The first has been running since 2001. It’s a $200 rebate program. With this, it’s kind of up to the homeowner to go and purchase a new toilet. If they bring us the documents, we give them the rebate.

“Since 2006, we’ve also been running a bathroom fixture replacement program, where we offer toilets, showerheads and aerators. This is in conjunction with Alpine Water Management and Sustainable Solutions Canada. With this project, we work with Alpine. They do all the installation. They go out and install low flow toilets, showerheads and aerators at no cost to the homeowner.”

According to Wildeman, the first program has seen the SCRD issue 2,000 rebates. The latter initiative has disseminated 6,000 low flow fixtures throughout the district’s boundaries. Wildeman and his department are in the process of analyzing data to see what the impact has been on the area’s water consumption.

“Obviously if we can reduce the demand, we don’t have to spend the money on the reservoir,” he said. “At the same time as doing something good on the environment, we can also spend our money wisely.”

The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District does not have a similar policy in place, according to Chief Administrative Officer Paul Edgington, a self-proclaimed veteran of local government.

“It’s been my experience that you can differ, delay or avoid large capital infrastructure costs if you can reduce consumption,” he said. “There are different ways of doing that. It’s managing demand, changing habits, and these things. You don’t just save the cost on the water side of the formula; you also save costs to some extent on sewage treatment.”

Establishing meters can have profound impacts, said Edgington, simply because people are typically ignorant about how much water they use. “I believe most people, when it’s brought to their attention, can change their habits.”

In that spirit, the SLRD is calling for developments in Britannia Beach, Furry Creek and Porteau Cove to include water meters. During previous employment in another regional district, Edgington saw meters cut water usage by 50 per cent.

“There are a myriad of advantages to the community and the environment,” he said.