December 16, 2013

Learn more about  groundwater on Gabriola

Thanks to our tax dollars, the RDN is working hard to learn more about Gabriola's groundwater -- quality, quantity, distribution and risks.  This is the first phase report, and it's a good read.

http://rdnwaterbudget.ca/islands/ 

Hopefully with more data, the island will be able to come up with a good plan for how we manage for community/bulk water supply. 

Right now, due to some bad public policy, one bulkwater hauler has to supply from his own private wells only, and hauling from Nanaimo is an expensive option that is vulnerable to restrictions from another jurisdiction and the cost and inefficiency of bringing it over by ferry.  We need an on-island solution and this groundwater study will hopefully help with some answers.

How to change your filters . . .

Many of our customers asked for this.  

Top three problems people run into are: 
1) not depressurizing  the water lines to get all the water pressure off (i.e. turn off valve inlet and run a tap downstream until just a dribble); 
2) accidentally dumping the O-ring out when emptying the filter cartridge and not noticing; 
3) wrenching the filter housing on so tight it causes the o-ring to stretch and get sloppy, causing leaks.
Hope this helps you.