Rocky View County Council is growing frustrated that water from the Aqua 7 Water Commission is not flowing freely into the county.
For years Rock View has wanted to amend the Geographical restrictions of the Water Commission it agreed to, which was to be able to use water from the Red Deer River, treated at the Drumheller Water Treatment plant and delivered via Aqua 7 to a set geographical region.
Drumheller agreed to an amendment that would allow the county to use water in Kathryn. Most recently the county made a request in February to relax the restrictions so water could be used on all points of the county. Drumheller Council denied the request.
Rocky View Councillor Greg Boehlke who sits on the Aqua 7 Commission was quoted in the Rocky View Tims as saying… "It’s not the Commission’s fault, It’s not them, blame Drumheller.” He explains his frustration.
“It is true. Aqua 7 has been totally behind Rocky View. Every member of that commission is trying to secure the water for us to use , and it is not because they think Rocky View is a bunch of good old boys. It stands to reason that if Rocky View had an allotment of water and was using it, the rate of the water would go down, the turbidity problems would be helped with the greater volume at the plant. It would be a win-win project for everybody.”
While it was reported that the county was considering leaving Aqua 7, he says that is not accurate.
“We don’t want to leave but we are spending a lot of money every year in administration fees for Aqua 7 and we are helping to finance the deficit that is there and we have no access to water to get it to where we need it,” said Boehlke. “We have been negotiating with the province or the Town of Drumheller for the last seven or eight years to try and get the map expanded and it hasn’t been working.”
“We absolutely want to stay in the commission and want to support our neighbours and help support Drumheller… It just ups the volume for Drumheller and allows them another good customer, but we have to get this map issue settled and get the water to where we can use it.”
He said the agreement with the geographical restrictions was entered into about 10 years ago, and was before the county was facing as many pressures for expansion.
“I believe the council of the day were led to believe that map was just a map, an area cordoned off, and if you need the water anywhere else you can change it any time,” said Boehlke.
He hopes they can negotiate an arrangement for the water.
“How long can you ask an entity to pay for something they have no direct access to where they need it?” asks Boehlke.
