Dunsandel ‘set for epidemic’ through water

Press, 30 August 1980, Page 2

Dunsandel ‘set for epidemic’ through water

The water supply in Dunsandel is “all set” for some type of epidemic, the chairman of the North Canterburj' Catchment Board (Dr W. R. Holmes) has told a meeting of the board’s water committee. The meeting yesterday was considering an application for septic tank effluent disposal in Dunsandel. It was the first such application received for the township. Dr Holmes said that to approve the application would set a precedent. The situation was most unsatisfactory. The meeting decided to set the matter aside until more information Was available. The board’s water engineer (Mr M. J. Bowden) said water samples from 17 properties of the 80 properties in the area, had been tested and that there was a 70 per cent contamination rate. •Most of the township relied on individual wells for water. A 10-section subdivision belonging to the Ellesmere County Council had a reticulated water supply from a well. Two houses near the well

had septic tanks, for which no water rights had been given, said Mr Bowden. Because of its position the septic tank that was the subject of the application was unlikely to add any risk to the existing water supplies. However, problems could arise if more applications were received. “You could go for many years without anything happening with the present level of contamination, but then there could be a spate of viruses,” said Mr Bowden after the meeting. . Mr Bowden said a letter from the Ellesmere County Council pointed out that the long and short term approach to the water supply difficulties would depend largely on the rate of growth in Dunsandel, which was ex* tremely slow at the moment The matter was being kept under review. Dr Holmes said: “I do not care how Ellesmere County solves its water problems, but it should do something about them.”