Residents of a rural community near Penticton, British Columbia, are facing a financial and public health crisis as they prepare to vote Saturday on a $33-million loan to repair a failing water system that has left approximately 60 homes under permanent boil water advisories.
The Sage Mesa water system, which serves about 250 properties, has failed to meet basic water treatment guidelines set by Interior Health for years. The privately-owned infrastructure has been under provincial control since 1990 and is currently operated by the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen.
The financial burden on residents has become unbearable. If the proposed referendum passes and federal and provincial grants don't materialize, ratepayers could face approximately $1,200 monthly charges spread over 30 years to repay the loan.
Residents Pushed to Breaking Point
Nicole Clark, a Sage Mesa resident, filed a proposed class-action lawsuit in B.C. Supreme Court in late March against Sage Mesa Co. and the province of British Columbia. The suit alleges the defendants have known about systemic water system failures since at least 2012 and violated B.C.'s Drinking Water Protection Act by failing to provide safe drinking water.
Clark told CBC News the situation has forced her to delay retirement entirely. "I'll be 65 next year, my husband will be 70, we both will be continuing to work because without that employment income, after the mortgage payment and water bills, we will have about $600 a month for gas, groceries, dog food, all the things," she said.
"The $33 million divided by 242 people, borrowed and amortized over 30 years is just too much to handle. I mean, we will lose our house." — Nicole Clark, Sage Mesa resident
Province Refuses Responsibility
The lawyer representing the plaintiffs, Aden Thompson-Klein, criticized the provincial government's inaction. "They have a duty to repair it, they have a duty to provide clean drinking water for users, but their approach has simply been that they won't do it and they are hoping someone else will," he said.
The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen has stated that federal and provincial grants could cover up to 75 per cent of repair costs, but acknowledges it has no certainty those grants will be approved or received.
Community sentiment heading into the critical Saturday vote ranges from anger and frustration to deep fear and uncertainty about the future. The class-action lawsuit, which names Clark as the sole plaintiff for now, has not yet been certified by the courts.
This report is based on coverage from CBC British Columbia. Read the full story here.