01-09-06, 01:52
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Running out of water ...
Rain rain come again ....
Quote:
Tofino to run out of water in 10 days, mayor says
Updated Thu. Aug. 31 2006 4:28 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
The mayor of Tofino, B.C. warned Thursday that the town has only 10 days of water left if it doesn't rain -- and only a 20 per cent chance of rain is forecast.
Mayor John Fraser urged residents to make conservation efforts or they may have to start stocking up on bottled water. The town's reservoir is running dry because there hasn't been any rain since July.
Many businesses are closing down after the drought-struck town issued an order cutting off water supplies to businesses.
Some resorts in the Vancouver Island tourist destination will stay open for the long Labour Day weekend despite the closure order, which goes into effect Friday. A few hotels and business owners are hooking up to well water, while others have made arrangements to truck in water supplies.
The posh Wickaninnish Inn has ordered temporary tanks and has water trucks on the way, but won't commit to opening until a health inspector approves the provision.
The luxurious Long Beach Resort in Tofino has secured water tanks which are due to arrive later Thursday, to be followed by a large water tanker truck.
Resort general manager Carly Hall said the effort will allow them to run a "fairly normal business" through one of the busiest long-weekends of the year.
"Obviously we will have water conservation efforts in effect for our guests and ensure that they'll be following those fairly strictly. But we're hoping to stay open and service as many people as we can," Hall told CTV Newsnet Thursday.
"We're going to be running test runs of the (water) system this afternoon, but as far as I understand we will have running water in the rooms," she said.
"Showering will be no problem but we won't be able to run such things as our hot tubs -- we will be shutting those down."
The District of Tofino notified businesses Tuesday afternoon they would have to shut their doors to conserve water for residential use.
Hall said the hotel spent most of the Tuesday cancelling weekend bookings, but since then has picked up some of those booking again and are now "looking OK for the weekend."
Other resorts, however, haven't been as fortunate. With profits about to evaporate, many have started layoffs and announced they will close this weekend.
The Pacific Sands, for example, said Wednesday it will be laying 25 people off and operate with minimal staff over the weekend.
The B.C. government, meanwhile, is offering to help relocate some of the hundreds of tourists who planned to spend the weekend enjoying Tofino's spectacular scenery around the Pacific Rim National Park and world-renowned resorts.
One town councillor told The Canadian Press the community needs at least two days of rain before businesses could resume operating -- but weekend weather forecasts call for sun, warm temperatures and no rain.
Residents
For the 1,700 residents who live in Tofino, the district says taps will remain on.
However, "we're asking them to severely cut back their usage," the mayor said.
In the meantime, Tofino has switched to a back-up water source from Ginnard Creek on nearby Meares Island, for residents' use only -- health officials are telling people to boil their water for at least two minutes before using.
"We'll be testing it in, I believe, in four spots each day," said the mayor, "and if it comes back in good enough shape then they'll (call) the boil-water warning off."
The municipality implemented Level 4 water regulations last week, meaning residents were prohibited from washing vehicles or watering lawns. It is now at Level 5.
The solicitor general's Provincial Emergency Plan has offered to set up an emergency command centre and send more water trucks and fire fighters.
"They currently have a hydrologist on site helping the community plan their short and long-term needs. They are also offering tanker trucks," Sarah Harrison, Community Services Ministry spokesperson, told The Canadian Press.
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