By Abigail Popple, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, RMG
The Village of McBride received just over $146,000 in provincial funding for an alternate water source feasibility study, the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness announced last Wednesday. The money comes from the Disaster Risk Reduction-Climate Adaptation stream of the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund, a grant funded by the Province and administered by the Union of BC Municipalities.
The study is the latest in a series of attempts to find alternate water sources as McBride combats a longstanding drought. Earlier this year, the Village drilled two test wells near Dominion Creek to find a new water source and came up dry. In February, Mayor Gene Runtz told The Goat that the Village would apply for the Disaster Risk Reduction-Climate Adaptation grant for another study to identify potential water sources for residents living within Village limits.
McBride is not the only municipality using the latest round of funding to cope with drought: the Capital Regional District is using some of its funds to create signs informing the public of their community’s drought levels, and the City of Merritt is using the money to plan for an upgrade of its well.
So far this year, the Disaster Risk Reduction-Climate Adaptation program has funded 132 projects in communities throughout B.C., according to a statement the Ministry of Emergency Management sent to The Goat. The Province has funded multiple initiatives for local governments to fortify their communities against drought, including a $100M Agriculture Water Infrastructure Program and $100M Watershed Security Fund, along with the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund, the statement continues.
The Village of McBride did not respond to The Goat’s multiple requests for comment over the course of two weeks.
