The Growing Opportunities Farm Community Co-Op runs a sizeable amount of farm land in Nanaimo, growing food for low income people and working with people of varying developmental challenges. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

water needs

Nanaimo’s Growing Opportunities co-op facing rising water bills and infrastructure challenges

Apr 21, 2022 | 12:13 PM

NANAIMO — The Growing Opportunities Farm Community Co-Op have some water woes and need a little help.

A record drought through summer 2021 amplified some existing infrastructure challenges and meant the organization which grows food for low income people, while also offering employment for those with developmental challenges faced a big bill.

Paul Manly, a director for the cooperative, made a pitch to Nanaimo’s finance and audit committee on Wednesday, April 20, for a break on their water bill through a grant in aid.

“We are a non-profit cooperative that is trying to employ people with barriers and challenges and provide food for low income individuals. Every dollar we spend is a precious dollar and we’re just looking for solutions as we move forward.”

Manly said their client farm off Westwood Rd. near Cathers Lake had an $8,000 water bill last year, with an adjoining blueberry farm on the same site using another $4,000 worth of water, mainly due to drought.

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Last year saw the fourth driest spring in history for Nanaimo preceded a record 52-day span without any measurable precipitation in the city.

City rates for water are designed, according to Manly, to discourage higher usage and wasting of the resource with a higher rate applied as more is used.

Manly asked the City for a revised water rate, with the co-op currently paying the standard residential fees. He suggested Nanaimo could fall in line with other communities such as Comox or Port Alberni and offer an agricultural or bulk rate for similar farms.

The committee asked for a staff report on the grant in aid request, along with some background on water rates in Nanaimo and other like-sized communities.

It will come back to Council at a later date.

Nearby Cathers Lake is a primary source of water for the co-op’s client farm down the hill, however infrastructure damage is preventing them from drawing water from it. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Further compounding issues for the farm is access to nearby Cathers Lake, for which the cooperative has rights to draw water from.

Manly said their infrastructure is damaged and work needs to be done in order to restore the connection.

“We need an environmental assessment of the lake, there may be pollutants in the lake that we don’t want on food. There’s infrastructure needs for upgrading the pipe and the filtration.”

The co-op does have concerns about the water quality from the small urban lake and any pesticides or herbicides being used from on neighbouring properties.

Potential contaminants such as fuel and oil from homes and garages nearby are also a concern to the organization.

Manly added any changes they would make could affect homes built in the area, something they’re not keen to do.

“The surrounding land owners have built docks on the lake and we could drain that lake down to one-third its level, but we want to be good neighbours.”

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alex@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley