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Capital Regional District move to limit access to water may drive up the price of potable water delivery to West Shore residents who rely on the service.

South Island Water Ltd. co-owner Teresa Hall said her costs for filling up her delivery truck and delivering the water are going up, forcing her to increase the cost to customers. She estimates a delivery, which for an average house will last about a month, could go up by $50.

Hall said that last July, the CRD shut down some standpipes the company used as access to potable water, including standpipes in Metchosin and Langford. The access the company now has is quite far away from certain delivery areas, increasing the cost to deliver.

B次元官网网址淭hey said B次元官网网址業ncrease your rates,B次元官网网址� and we said, B次元官网网址楴o, thatB次元官网网址檚 not fair to the customers,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Hall said. B次元官网网址淭hey pay taxes. This water is for everyone.B次元官网网址�

Among the companyB次元官网网址檚 600-odd customers are many residents in Metchosin and Highlands, along with residents in Sooke and nearby areas. The company is the sole water provider for South Island.

B次元官网网址淭hese people need this water. ItB次元官网网址檚 not like itB次元官网网址檚 a luxury, itB次元官网网址檚 a necessity,B次元官网网址� Hall said. B次元官网网址淭his is not just for us to make more money, if that was the case we would just raise our prices.B次元官网网址�

Hall will be requesting greater access to water at a commission meeting next Tuesday, Jan. 7.

Juan de Fuca Regional Director Mike Hicks was at the water commission meeting where the CRD gave a verbal report on the issue.

B次元官网网址淚 spoke strongly against their suggestion, and in favour of South Island Water,B次元官网网址� said Hicks. B次元官网网址淚 want a full debate at the next meeting.

B次元官网网址淲e have more than 600 families dependent on water, thatB次元官网网址檚 more than the population of the Highlands.B次元官网网址�

The CRD has concerns, Hicks said, and one of them is about how much water the providers are taking. He said South Island Water can put meters on their trucks and they could deal with all of the concerns Juan de Fuca water would have.

B次元官网网址淲e want to be able to provide potable water to rural areasB次元官网网址� as close to the market as possible and be as affordable as we can,B次元官网网址� said Hicks.

Juan de Fuca Water Distribution Commission chair and Metchosin Coun. Bob Gramigna said the commissionB次元官网网址檚 concerns stem from the fact the issue deals with a private business.

B次元官网网址淲ill we be spending ratepayer money for private businesses?B次元官网网址� Gramigna said. B次元官网网址淭he distribution area is not the entire municipality.B次元官网网址�

The water commission will meet on Tuesday at 479 Island Highway at noon to discuss the issue.

- With files from Pirjo Raits