The City of Dawson Creek is looking for an alternative water source after discussions about the construction of a new pipeline with the province at the beginning of last year.
Since Dawson Creek is not build around a major water source, the city’s only source of drinkable water is the Kiskatinaw River. It provides water to about 15,000 people, in Dawson Creek, Pouce Coupe, and the surrounding area.
The city says the pressure put on the water system continues to intensify because of the “unprecedented drought conditions” in the region. They say the city has faced many challenges in keeping a secure and sustainable water supply.
In 2013, the city developed the Sure Water Program, a campaign and survey of residents to help identify the community’s preference on how to deal with water supply challenges.
The four options were to maintain and upgrading the existing Kiskatinaw River water supply system, to enhance the existing system with increased raw-water storage, to tap into groundwater aquifers as a back-up, or to build a water pipeline from a new source.
Building a new pipeline received 71% of the votes, but the city decided to go down the path of building a new reservoir and maximizing the use of the existing water treatment system. They said they would consider the possibility of a pipeline in the future.
The city now says they can’t provide more water without connecting to a new water source, because when tapping into groundwater aquifers, the groundwater was found to be salty and not suitable for potable water.
That led the city to where they are now, wanting to explore different options for water supply, like the Peace River or Murray River, both of which would require a new pipeline.
To do so, the city says they are pursuing an exemption from the Environmental Assessment Office, a process that can take up to a year and a half. If the exemption is not granted, it would take three to five years to obtain a permit after going through a full environmental impact assessment.
The city can start exploring what a pipeline project would look like after getting approved. They say, “It will also require further strategic planning with provincial partners to reinforce long-term water source resilience and watershed protection.”