Dear editor,

The Strathcona Regional District and the Comox Valley Regional District are engaged in a lengthy battle over a new well installation for the Black Creek-Oyster Bay water system.

Some might politely refer to it as a 鈥渏urisdictional dispute.鈥� Whatever you choose to call it, the thousands of users of the system are suffering as a result.

The BCOB water system serves residents in both regional districts, stretching from the Oyster Bay rest area in the north to Kelland Road, Black Creek in the south. Most importantly, the system desperately needs an additional well (鈥淕W Solutions鈥� hydrological reports of 2015/16-cannot meet peak demands).

All the preparatory work has been completed - the present system has been evaluated, ground-penetrating radar has located the optimal location, a new test well has been completed, and even a federal/provincial government grant to cover most of the cost has been awarded. Yet the SRD/CVRD disagreement has stalled the project. No actual work is taking place!

Here (apparently) is the 鈥榠ssue鈥�- the system is managed by the CVRD (as per provincial guideline of 2008) yet the existing wells and the proposed new well are just on the north side of the Oyster River and, hence, in the Strathcona Regional District.

It seems the SRD wants to look at supplying water beyond the present northern end point of the system and therefore won鈥檛 yet grant access to complete the work for the new well. But the CVRD would like to proceed and have the project complete for the existing BCOB system by the grant deadline of March 31. The SRD and the CVRD need to immediately sort out the problem and work on supplying much-needed water to the residents of the system. This is not about green lawns and pretty flowers. It鈥檚 about household water use and fire protection. As it stands now no one gets to access any new, desperately needed water!

The water shortage in the BCOB system has been evident for at least four years. We鈥檝e finally got past the 鈥渢alking and studying鈥� stage and should have had this project completed by now. We need to get on with it.

Access to water should never be used as a bargaining chip. I urge anyone to contact their elected area director for their regional district if they have concerns regarding this completely unnecessary delay.

Neil Ross,

Black Creek