The County of Stettler is concerned over the Lone Pine Hutterite Colony’s application to draw water exclusively from two wells located about 15 kms northeast of Stettler.
Council will write a letter of concern to Alberta Environment over the water licence application in the Botha-Gadsby ward.
Currently, the colony draws water from the Shirley McClellan Regional Waterline, in addition to 9,420 cubic metres of water from those two wells. If approved, the colony would stop using the line, and instead draw an additional 18,580 cubic metres of water a year from those wells for their agriculture and poultry operations.
Council also had questions about how the colony would provide safe drinking water to their residents, and what the cost would be to the county to re-tie the piping on the regional waterline. There were also concerns about the county’s liabilities if the aquifer connected to those wells were to ever be drained, and the impact that would have on the colony’s neighbours.
Big Valley Coun. Dave Grover spoke of wanting to see assessments done on surrounding wells to determine the capacity of the aquifer. Issues were also raised by council over water rates for customers remaining on the Shirley McClellan line.
In the end, the application is subject to approval from the province under The Water Act.
landin.chambers@stettlerindependent.com
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