Dear Members:

It has been a month since the Islands Trust sponsored the Ground Water Workshop. Many thanks go out to Trustees, Bev Neff and Dian Johnstone, for their work to make the workshop such as success.

More recently the Moderator’s Report and Minutes of the Proceedings from the Islands Trust have been released. If you haven’t already read the two reports, the SIPOA board encourages all members to read them.

In reviewing the reports, it is clear that one of the major benefits of the workshop is that the community now has a common understanding of the water problems facing East Point. As Moderator, Ron Monk, summed up, the panel of experts told us:

• There are too many people in the area, and too many wells close together, to support the use of ground water as the sole means of water supply.
• Recharge is limited.
• There is lot of water available, just not in the ground. Therefore, there is a problem with storage, not supply.
• Everyone is responsible for utilizing this precious resource wisely.
• The solution rests with individuals.

Possible next steps, arising from the small working groups, were suggested, including but not limited to:

• Encouraging property owners to install meters to better determine water use
• Providing continuing education to the community (about groundwater and catchment/storage options for East Point)
• Assessing incentives to amalgamate properties (at East Point)
• Advocacy initiatives to all levels of government regarding ground water issues (at East Point & elsewhere) and encourage them to provide better solutions, fix regulatory problems (eg. CRD regulations for rainwater storage) and finalize a new provincial Water Act
• Identifying drainage areas at East Point and assess catchment and storage options
• Owners and community groups work together to create an umbrella group to work toward resolving East Point water concerns (groundwater, catchment etc.)
• Educating visitors and part time residents about conserving water
• Encouraging property owners to raise existing well pumps at East Point

In looking at possible next steps the SIPOA Board, by way of this email, is requesting members to let us know what actions, if any, you want the association to pursue.

For example, should SIPOA be advocating to the various levels of government to help us resolve water concerns, specifically:

• CRD with respect to revising regulations governing rainwater capture?

• Our Member of Parliament to see what federal incentives or rebates may be possible for water conservation and/or rainwater capture?
• Islands Trustees to write to the CRD and province regarding their regulations governing rainwater capture on behalf of Saturna’s property owners?
• The provincial Ministry of Environment to advocate for a revised Water Act that includes clauses which allows for flexibility in rural situations such as ours?
• Rate payer associations on other islands to see if a common approach can be found for regional rainwater capture regulations.

Other options include: Should SIPOA become more active in terms of educating property owners with respect to prudent water management techniques and practices?

And, we welcome your ideas if and how SIPOA can work with the Saturna Community Club's Water Committee?

To not increase messages in the inboxes of members, please send your responses to:

sipoa@saturnanet.net

Thanks for taking the time to let us know if and how SIPOA should respond to the findings of the water workshop.

Murray Rankin

President