nov
news

Rainwater Harvesting Tank Rebate

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In our area we have been reaching out to let people know that the Capital Region Director (like a mayor) has arranged for a CRD grant in aid for 5 rebates of up to $1000 each to help people to buy their new rainwater harvesting tank. The rebate will cover half the cost of a tank (up to $1000) and people have responded enthusiastically. The application must be received by Nov.22, 2025 and then we sort which ones qualify (must be a single private residence in Juan de Fuca  Electoral Area  not on a piped water system) and we do a blind draw from  the qualified applicants. The five winners will be notified, with the time frame for purchasing their tank and having it delivered. The number of people who apply and do not get the rebate will show the need for the rebate programme to run again. The application and information sheet are attached to download. If you are not in the Juan de Fuca Electoral Areas, you might want to ask for a similar programme where you live. Sending rainwater down storm drains is just silly. Application form for rebate

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There was an information meeting on November 2nd.  Ken Nentwig, who gave the information, had kindly sent a link for the recording of his presentation. https://youtu.be/ucpHmfoqimw

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Some statistics

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By the end of October, the Sooke Lake Reservoir was lower than it has been in years at 60.6% capacity. With two weeks of heavy rains (107% of the five-year average for September1 to November 9) the lake had risen to 63.2% full.  That is still less than the lowest volume measured in the previous five years, which was 64.7%. The rainfall reported in the CRD Water Watch will have been measured at Sooke Lake. 2025-11-09-water-watch-combined-websitepdf

 

The 606 Water Group is interested in “micro climates” across the CRD. Below are rainfall figures for September 1 to Nov. 9 (10) from several CRD locations. We understand that not all School Based Weather Stations are fully functional but some are still reporting what the instruments record.

Sooke Lake            326.0 mm

Victoria Airport        179.8 mm

Gonzales Point        186.6 mm

Colwood Elementary    219.0 mm

Colquitz Elementary         76.0 mm

John Stubbs Memorial    177.8 mm

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Good water news and some reasons we take care of it and stay out of its way.

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Sea Water Solution: Did you know that Hong Kong—a small island with a big population—uses sea water for flushing toilets? This started in the mid-1950s. The sea water is treated so it does not smell like the ocean and a dual plumbing system includes  special piping that won’t corrode in salt water. Also, in 2003, the Hong Kong government announced a "total water management programme". In 2005, a study was commissioned and based on the study, new initiatives  were put in place to address leakage reduction, water conservation,  greywater reuse, rainwater harvesting, and pilot programmes for the reuse of reclaimed water and desalination. 

 

Good water news from a hurricane: In 1954, Hurricane Hazel hit Toronto and caused extensive flooding, damage and loss of life. However, thanks to Hazel, Toronto no longer allows building on floodplains and much of the lowland has been turned into green spaces and parks, transforming flood-damaged areas into green spaces, namely Murray Curtis Park, Raymore Park and Morningside Park, which was later merged with adjacent conservation land to convert flood-prone land into parks, preventing future development and creating protected river valley lands. https://trca.ca/news/hurricane-hazel-70-years/

 

Locally we have good water news as the autumn rains have begun in earnest. Unhappily other places in Canada, and worldwide, are not faring as well. Nova Scotia is having real drought problems that are proving to be costly: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/n-s-municipality-faces-tough-winter-as-drought-strains-limited-resources-9.6961511  Note in this article people are filling their wells-huh? Wells are not solid bottom silos, they are like straws into an underground lake. It is a two-way proposition. Water seeps into the well and will also seep out.  New Brunswick is also struggling with prolonged drought: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/water-conservation-drought-wells-winter-9.6967707 

 

In the above article check out the Drought Map for Canada to see how many provinces are struggling. The BC Drought Portal shows the Okanagan Basin at Level 4 drought in the week of October 9, which is unprecedented for this time of the year.  
https://obwb.ca/drought-bulletin-october-9-2025/#:~:text=%F0%9D%90%8E%F0%9D%90%A4%F0%9D%90%9A%F0%9D%90%A7%F0%9D%90%9A%F0%9D%90%A0%F0%9D%90%9A%F0%9D%  By the end of October, the drought level had dropped to Level 2.  The neighbouring “basin”, Similkameen, had endured 14 weeks of Level 4 drought by October 16, with some relief by the end of October.

 

Rainfall is not always relief. We had several days of periodic rain but because the ground was so hard from a long drought, a lot of it ran off instead of sinking into the soil. In some areas, roads were flooded due to heavy rain, strong winds and high tides all at the same time. 

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Jet Fuel Spill: Bad news being updated daily from the Kamloops area where two train tank cars carrying estimated 70,000 L. of jet fuel and gypsum derailed and leaked into the Lake. Containment booms were rapidly placed but residents were being told not drink the water, prepare food with it, wash or even flush with it. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/air-land-water/spills-environmental-emergencies/spill-incidents/train-derailment-cherry-creek

https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2025/11/10/officials-to-hold-public-meeting-after-kamloops-lake-derailment-fuel-spill/

https://vernonmorningstar.com/2025/11/12/water-sampling-continues-after-train-derailment-near-kamloops/ 

From City News above: In a statement to 1130 NewsRadio, the Interior Health Authority says testing is ongoing. “Given the nature of fuel in a large body of water Interior Health and partner agencies are working with CPKC to inform a comprehensive and thorough water sampling strategy to monitor the potential risks associated with this incident,” it stated. On Thursday, the health authority advised residents of Frederick, a small community on the lake’s north shore, to use alternate water sources for all purposes.

“This recommendation is also made proactively to protect private water users in the area, as small amounts of fuel drawn into a water intake may cause long-term damage to a water system. Interior Health will update Frederick area residents when it is safe to use water from the lake again,” said Interior Health on Friday. Last week, it was determined the water is safe to use, but water sampling is ongoing.

 

One minute your water source is good, the next it is contaminated. Are any of us prepared for this?

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A few words on riparian setbacks.

 

There is a small but vocal movement afoot in our area to decrease the riparian areas or buffer zones to allow for a bigger development footprint. An article from the Oct. 2025 blog from Watersheds Canada explains why these “borders” between water and development are necessary to humans and mentions what else we can be doing—or not doing. Buffer Zones to Prevent Harmful Algae Blooms - Watersheds Canada – Work, Live & Play in Healthy Lakes and Rivers  The setbacks support water quality. Sometimes the smallest life form has astonishing effect: a water moss removes arsenic from water. This Moss Naturally Clears Arsenic From Water  Bacteria war with each other, and often the good guys win, so that the water is safe for larger creatures….

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Riparian zones also protect against flooding and landslides and erosion caused by high tides. They hold water for the interflow and act as firebreaks.  They provide homes for many diverse species and provide wildlife corridors. Shrinking the riparian setbacks and channelling streams into culverts to allow more land for development is asking for problems. Culverts often become blocked with debris causing flooding upstream. Culverts are not forever because when they rust and rot, the water escapes to take away the “reclaimed land”, damaging landscaping, roads, buildings, sewer and septic systems, etc. Water will win eventually.

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Epitaph for Ella Stream headwaters

 

A stunning example of how a riparian setback can be compromised is at the headwaters of Ella Stream, in the District of Sooke.  An original 2012 report by a qualified professional was lost or ignored while the riparian setbacks identified were destroyed. Subsequent professional reports (2018) identified setbacks from the observed destruction, apparently without considering the original condition of the headwaters. Somewhere in all the obfuscation, a bear has been blamed. It seems that with red tape and survey tape, no other entity is responsible for the destruction of the proposed nature park areas and headwaters of the stream. 

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