Problems with new Charlottetown well field delaying environmental study

A government-funded study aimed at shaping P.E.I.'s water use rules is up to two years behind schedulebecause of ongoing problemswith Charlottetown's newest well field in Miltonvale Park.

The well field isset up to pump water from the Coles Creek watershed into the city. The province commissioned the study to find out what impact that water extraction is having on the creek'sstream flow and fish populations.

But while the city finally opened the new well field nine months ago, officials saytechnical problemshave stopped itfrom operating anywhere near capacity.

"So we don't think there's been enough pumping there that we can really detect a change in the stream level," said Mike van den Heuvel, the study's lead researcher. "So, all it's going to do is eventually delay the conclusions of the study, because we'll have to do at least two years of data pumping at full capacity.It may delay it for a year or two."

Study won't influence new Water Act regulations

On its website, the P.E.I. government says the study "will inform decisions around water usage in the future" and "will determine the necessary quantity of water in streams to ensure our waterways can be sustainably managed into the future."

But van den Heuvel maintains there's no majorurgency to complete the study.He points out the P.E.I. government is already drawing up its new Water Act regulations some of which it hopes to have in place by the spring.

He says his research team has provided other scientific research and general guidelines to government to help shape its regulations.

"In the end, we knew the province was going to have regulations before the study was done anyway," he said.

"This study is one river on one site, too.It certainly won't be all encompassing for giving us all the answers for P.E.I.We're all aware research of this nature has to be ongoing."

Silver lining

Van den Heuvel saysthe delays in getting the new well field fully operational may actually lead to a more complete study.

He saidit's given his researchteam more time to collect data on thewatershed's fish and stream flows before they're impacted by major water extraction. They've been collecting that data since 2016.

"Certainly streams change from year to year.So to get more of asense of the variability in that stream before the pumping activity happens is probably an advantage," he said.

The city says contractors are working on necessary repairs to the well field this week, which should get it operating at full capacity within a month.

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