There was a packed house on Monday night as council discussed the recommendations of the East Coulee Water Fill Task Force.
Councillors Lisa Hansen-Zacharuk and Sharel Shoff, comprising the Town of Drumheller’s East Coulee Water Fill Station Task Force, put forth some restrictions for the planned East Coulee Water Fill Station.
Council approved the report recommending certain conditions be met at its regular meeting of Monday, March 24.
The five recommendations are:
- the water fill station should be installed at this location (Town selected site.)
- the size of the line for the water fill station is not to exceed 1 1/2 inches (about double the size of the average household garden hose) and also would include bucket fill for smaller quantity of water.
- the hours of operation be 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM as per the Community Standards Bylaw, and activity is to be monitored to ensure compliance.
- the appearance of the water fill station should be chosen to enhance the appearance of the entrance to East Coulee. Options will be provided and East Coulee will be asked for their preferred option. (Options forwarded to the Chairman of the East Coulee Community Association.)
- the size of the trucks permitted to use the fill station must be no larger than 28,000 kgs.
“The most important thing about the report is the recommendations,” said Councillor Sharel Shoff.
“Council has said that allows the administration and the town staff to go ahead with what’s happening with this water fill station.”
“I hope people understand the importance of what we did do, and we did follow what they wanted. I know they won’t be happy with having a water fill station, but I think if they look, they’ll see they will have fresh water, and then they’ll have an opportunity to make a nice looking building.”
The Task Force met with East Coulee residents on January 19 at the BCF to hear their concerns on the proposed fill station.
After Council approved the report, an East Coulee resident voiced concerns over impact of emissions from trucks idling at the water fill station.
The Task Force hired Stantec Consulting Ltd. to analyze the soil and water conditions at the fill site at the intersection of 1 Avenue and 5 Street in East Coulee.
Samples were taken at and around the fill station site.
Stantec states the site is a suitable location for a water filling station, with ground disturbance activities associated with the construction and installation of the water fill station unlikely to spread soil contaminants into local wells.
A sample was also taken from River Drive and another sample was taken from about the middle of 4th and 5th Street and 2nd Avenue and River Drive.
The Town has forwarded Stantec’s findings on to Alberta Health Services and Alberta Environment after their tests identified ground water contamination in East Coulee, raising concerns over the water in domestic wells in the area.
