Local environmentalists say that landfills are a threat to drinking water, and they’ve launched a petition on Change.org calling for tighter restrictions regulating the location of dumps in B.C.
The Campbell River Environmental Committee (CREC) had garnered more than 250 signatures in support of the initiative by Wednesday afternoon.
Provincial regulations for aquifers and drinking water don’t go far enough to protect water supplies from contamination from landfills, according to the CREC petition.
READ MORE: Campbell River Environmental Committee educates public on threats to drinking water
Supporters want George Heyman, B.C.’s Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, to pass restrictions on the location of landfills under the Environmental Management Act.
The changes would prevent any “permit, approval, plan, certificate or any other authorization” for a new landfill – or landfill expansion – over a porous aquifer.
READ MORE: City seeking more information on proposed landfill
It’s the latest development in CREC’s fight to prevent the expansion of a landfill operated by Upland Excavating Ltd.
The expanded operation would include contaminated soil along with construction and demolition waste that may be contaminated, according CREC.
The landfill is located near McIvor Lake, which is connected to Campbell River’s drinking water system. Also nearby is Rico Lake, which drains into McIvor during the winter months, according to CREC.
The company has said the project would be safe, with water quality monitored regularly to meet Ministry of Environment standards.
@davidgordonkoch
david.koch@campbellrivermirror.com
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