The Saltair Water System was subject to a criminal act of vandalism on Sunday, Dec. 15 when two water hydrants in the area of Oyster Way and Olsen Road were opened and left flowing. This resulted in approximately 300,000 litres of UV-treated chlorinated water being lost.

Cowichan Valley Regional District director for Saltair Jesse McClinton wrote on social media, 鈥淭hat quantity of water dropped our reservoir capacity by 30 per cent. The reservoir is the second-stage storage after treating water from Stocking Lake.鈥�

Low reservoir level alarms alerted CVRD Utilities staff to the situation at 4:50 a.m. and staff members were able to stop the flow. Unfortunately, a resident鈥檚 driveway had already been washed out by the water. 

McClinton said this act is more severe than what we typically associate with vandalism. In addition to the wasted water and staff time spent to stop the water flow, this crime also puts firefighting capacity at risk.

鈥淥pened hydrants lower the water flow velocity of other hydrants,鈥� he said, adding that the vandalism 鈥渟everely impacts firefighters' capacity to extinguish a fire if the worst-case scenario unfolds.鈥�

Police are now involved, as tampering with a potable water system is a criminal offence under Part 4, Section 23 of the Drinking Water Protection Act.

This incident is the latest in a series of similar events in September 2023 and January 2024. In total, five hydrants were tampered with and more than a million litres of potable water wasted. In the January 2024 incident, a residential property on Chemainus Road near Greenhill Drive sustained considerable damage.

According to McClinton, all three incidents are within walking distance of each other.

North Cowichan utilities staff confirmed that a common pipe wrench can open hydrants and no special tool was required.

McClinton hopes that someone in the area may have security footage from the early morning of Dec. 15 or perhaps heard or saw something that they didn鈥檛 previously realize was significant. 

He asks anyone with information to call the CVRD hotline at 1-888-453-0148 or email utilities@cvrd.bc.ca.

鈥淭hey have a police file open and are collecting evidence. Your information could be crucial in preventing further damage and ensuring the safety of our community,鈥� he said.

McClinton says he is less interested in exacting punitive measures than he is in protecting the community and its water supply. 

鈥淢y goal is for it to stop and never happen again,鈥� he said.