Dear editor,

My understanding is that our present source for water is from Comox Lake supplemented from surplus hydro water.

That there will be an ever growing need for this commodity, due to the steady influx of seniors from all the provinces and retiring military personnel, who find the Island, and in particular, the Comox Valley as the 鈥淕arden of Eden.鈥�

Currently, to address this problem, the Valley imposes water restrictions in three stages, as a means for preserving our supply for as long as possible. However, we must face it, that this is just nibbling at the real problem, that with continued growing population and forecast changes in climate conditions the long-term needs will place a heavy burden on the system.

With due respect for our fine administrators and politicians where mindset is constrained by yearly budgets, monthly reports, and five-year horizons; there is a need to form a 鈥渢hink tank鈥� of scientific minds that are prepared to provide the leadership to find answers to this challenge.

Increasing the capacity of Comox Lake could create serious problems for the cottage owners. Building a dam on any of the upstream tributaries could be very expensive.

Hydro鈥檚 position on long term supply is unknown. However, the problem creates a great opportunity for the Valley to give leadership to the following project.

There is no shortage of water. Being an Island we are surrounded by accessible water, however, it happens to be salted and requires to be desalinated to be useful. A number of countries around the world are currently involved in its use, including Saudi Arabia, Israel, New Zealand, Australia, and California.

I believe now would be the time to show some leadership with a project to install a pilot machine to explore and gain experience as to the economics of desalination.

We know it is expensive and will never be as cheap as our own natural sources, but 25 -50 years from now the knowledge will be invaluable to the Valley and Island communities around.

The think tank should comprise of a small group, no more than four or five knowledgeable people in chemistry, marine biology, civil engineering and economics.

There are such people now amongst our retirees that could be harnessed together with a representative from North Island College to advise on the installation of a pilot plant within the next two years,a joint program with Emterra Recycling for a heat source, a component requirement for desalination, and scope for seed funding from provincial and community sources.

Mankind鈥檚 landings on the moon was achieved with a series of small steps and the knowledge gained could be used for a potential consultancy for other communities.

Tony Farrell

Comox