Concerns in B.C. community linger over water source disturbed by Site C dam construction

A B.C. mom says she's afraid to bathe her and her partner's four kids at home. Instead, they opted to wash in lakes and rivers near their residence in Hudson's Hope, west of Fort St John, this summer. 

Not satisfied to wait for solutions, Caitlin Vince, 37, helped found the Hudson's Hope Water Recovery Committee to address the ongoing issues with the town's tap water brought on by the construction of B.C. Hydro's Site C dam.

On Oct 14, the two-month-long "do not consume" order was lifted by Northern Health after the district's water received two good test results and an in-person visit from a Northern Health representative.

But the town's residents and its mayor say they still have serious concerns.

Northern Health issued the 'do not consume' order after the district's new water treatment plant failed. 

In 2020, the district switched from using the Peace River as its water source to a well system that tapped into an underground aquifer. Hudson's Hope built the new water treatment facility to manage the new water source. 

Getting the all-clear from Northern Health to drink the water was met with limited enthusiasm by the Water Recovery Committee. 

Vince says that even when the water was deemed safe, she had concerns.

"The smell was awful. You came out of the shower feeling dirty. Yeah, it was kind of a nightmare."

Dave Heiberg agrees that the quality of water is not what the community expected from the new system. 

In a written statement posted to the District of Hudson's Hope website, Heiberg says the water treatment plant still faces operational challenges.

"The long-term solution is to look for an alternative source, and we're looking at different options right now."

Heiberg says the district has been meeting with B.C. Hydro, and the utility has agreed that a different water source is required, but those options are still being discussed.

In a written statement to CBC News, B.C. Hydro says it has offered a further $2 million for repairs and improvements to the existing well system but is open to allowing the district to use that money to switch to a different water source.