Kristen Villebrun and Wendy Bush hoped they wouldn't have to pray for Chedoke Creek, but four years after they first raised alarm about the water's condition, they were part of an Indigenous full moon ceremony to do just that. About 50 people showed up near Princess Point on the dark and frigid Monday evening for the monthly ceremony, which was particularly special as it focused on Chedoke Creek. The body of water that runs into Cootes Paradise had about 24 billion litres of sewage and storm water runoff leak into it due to a gate being left open.
Vancouver Coastal Health says testing of the drinking water at a school in Powell River, B.C., has found levels of arsenic above the maximum acceptable concentration for consumption. The health authority says routine testing of the water supply at Kelly Creek Community School had demonstrated safe levels until now. Because the arsenic was found early, it says medical health officers have assessed the risk to students and staff as very low.
City of Powell River Council passed a bylaw that prohibits bottling of most water within city limits. At the March 4 city council meeting, council approved an amendment to the city’s zoning bylaw, which will prohibit the bottling of water or other beverages where the source of the water is other than the municipal water supply supplied directly to the property on which the bottling is taking place. This would allow continued local bottling of water for large jugs commonly used in water coolers, which is bottled by several local businesses.
