Ongoing water quality concerns in a Spallumcheen neighbourhood have some provincial politicians hitting the road.
NDP MLAs George Heyman, Lana Popham and Scott Fraser will visit Hullcar and Splatsin residents Tuesday to discuss high nitrate levels in the local aquifers.
“People in this area continue to be exposed to nitrate levels that are putting babies, the elderly, and anyone with a compromised immune system at serious risk,” said Heyman, the environment critic.
“Christy Clark and her government have known about the problem for two years, but they have failed to take action. Instead, they stood by while nitrate levels rose. Today, nitrate levels are more than 30 per cent above the guideline for Canadian drinking water quality.”
Popham is the NDP’s agriculture critic while Fraser is the aboriginal relations critic.
“Sandy soils can lead to manure infiltration into aquifers creating dangerous contamination levels,” said Popham.
“That’s why residents and the New Democrats have demanded that the government release the soil test samples we know have been taken in the area.”
The Ministry of Environment recently stated the government will work with farmers, the water district and First Nations to protect drinking water quality while supporting agriculture.
The ministry has pledged a review of all available water quality data, enhanced monitoring programs and community information meetings.