Amid growing drought concerns, Parksville residents are questioning the push for more development. The city's water supply is under strain, with the snowpack on Vancouver Island shrinking and the main aquifer under "high stress." A city councillor, Sean Wood, has raised concerns about the impact of population growth on the municipality's water supply, pointing to recent information from the River Forecast Centre and a report by KWL engineering. The Arrowsmith Reservoir, which feeds the Englishman River, is only 60% reliable, and the city's website claims two "robust" drinking water sources, but Wood argues that this conflicts with the engineering report's recommendation for millions of dollars in new infrastructure. Residents, like Bobbi Frank, share concerns about the proposed large developments on the Englishman River, emphasizing the need for a plan to collect more water. The city's chief administrative officer, Keeva Kehler, cautions against including specific outcomes in the official community plan, emphasizing that residents should decide the direction of growth. The mayor, Doug O'Brien, acknowledges the public's confusion and the council's efforts to learn more about water sources, but warns against premature conclusions. The debate revolves around balancing development with water resource management, and the future of Parksville's water supply remains uncertain as the city navigates the challenges of population growth and environmental constraints.
