WEST Vancouver council has granted residents of Montizambert Wynd another year of connection to its municipal water supply, but not without some stipulations.
The water war for the residents, who are living on unincorporated land in a Howe Sound cul-de-sac, has been going on since last year. The community's water supply is drawn from Montizambert Creek and is currently under a boil-water advisory from Vancouver Coastal Health and has been since 1996. As of now, the residents of Montizambert Wynd do not have access to municipally filtered water and are instead drinking "raw" water fed through their own filtration systems not recognized by VCH.
The province has long demanded the home owners pay up for a recognized water treatment plant, with residents refusing to cough up the cash and instead choosing to stick with their own private point-of-entry filtration systems.
The District of West Vancouver council has since threatened to cut off Montizambert Wynd residents from accessing its water pipe if they don't comply with the province, and were set to disconnect them come August. However, council decided Monday to work with the Montizambert Wynd residents in the next year to come up with "creative solutions" to benefit everyone with the understanding that formal agreements will be made within six months between them and Metro Vancouver.
No decision has been made as to exactly what the residents or the district will do, but director of engineering and transportation for West Vancouver Raymond Fung said the province may approve having West Van filter the water and sell it to Metro Vancouver, who would then re-sell it to Montizambert Wynd residents.
But another year would be needed to properly find an answer, which council granted.
Coun. Craig Cameron voiced his concerns over who would be liable in the coming year if someone drinks water in Montizambert Wynd and gets a disease.
Mayor Michael Smith said Metro Vancouver should be liable in this case, and the district should have indemnity in the chance something happens.
Council unanimously approved the extension which stands until Aug. 18, 2014.
