Hiway16 Magazine... about people and places in north-central British Columbia, Canada

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Clean Cold Water

by Debi Smith

Ever since the Walkerton, Ontario water tragedy, people everywhere have begun questioning their local water supplies. Gone are the days when a tap is turned on without thought.

In Houston, concern was minimal until our first ever "Boil Water" advisory was released April 25, 2002. Water test results showed elevated bacterial levels in two of the three District's water wells. Time for action.

Boil Water Advisory appeared in mail boxes April 2002

The three water wells currently being used in Houston are only 40 feet deep, which means they can be contaminated from surface water through seepage.

Buck Creek flows through the centre of Houston, next to the Houston Mall. Any pollution in Buck Creek or in the Bulkley River can taint our water source, which is exactly what happened to the two shallow wells located near Buck Creek in the Spring of 2002. Until that time, Houston had nothing but great tasting water running through its faucets.

Chlorination tank hooked up to the town water supply

When the chlorination of municipal water supplies became the norm in the early 1980's, Houston Council gave Houston residents a choice in a referendum vote on chlorination of the town's water system. The treatment was turned down.

Due to the recent Boil Water Advisory, the entire water system had to be disinfected with chlorine. After the Advisory was lifted May16, 2002, it was decided the water system would remain chlorinated on a continuous basis.






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