The short-term problems are horrible. The long-term problems are worse. The breach of a mine dump (re-branded a "tailings pond" for reasons that elude us) sent a 10-billionlitre torrent of water and sludge seeping into the waterways of the Cariboo.
Despite Imperial Metals' claim the liquid in the spill is a tad less refreshing than spring water, the residents of Quesnel and several other towns were skipping showers and buying bottled water this week.
Imperial Metals knew its wastewater level was rising, but this is not our main concern. Asking an industry to self-regulate is like asking an addict to self-medicate.
Our main concern is the Ministry of Environment saw the rising tide, issued a warning, and apparently were ignored.
Instead of taking action that could have averted a crisis, the company filed an application to discharge more wastewater - and while the wheels of bureaucracy ground sluggishly, disaster struck.
We are told the dam never failed before, but as we look at the future of B.C.'s economy, this fails to assure us.
There's a plan afoot for a liquefied natural gas terminal in Squamish that would put huge tankers through Howe Sound. The company's sales pitch includes the microscopic odds of a tanker going aground.
It's true that LNG tanker disasters and oil pipeline ruptures - much like wastewater dam breaches - are rare.
But they can happen, and as long as our government ministries are treated like underlings rather than overseers, our future is as murky as Quesnel's drinking water.
