A group of Highlands residents are concerned about the future of their main water source.

ItB次元官网网址檚 a concern that has caught the attention of the DistrictB次元官网网址檚 council and has triggered a partnership with the University of Victoria.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 basically one aquifer under all of the Highlands,B次元官网网址� said Val Fletcher, a member of the sustainable land-use select committee. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really important that we protect that.B次元官网网址�

That aquifer, which is the area of fractured rock that contains the areaB次元官网网址檚 main source of ground water, lays under a number of residential and industrial properties.

B次元官网网址淲ater is a big issue,B次元官网网址� Fletcher said, adding conditions such as climate change have impacted the way the District views the resource. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e getting clues; it could be an issue for us and weB次元官网网址檇 better get on it.B次元官网网址�

Due to the aquiferB次元官网网址檚 size and the number of people drawing water from it, he characterized it as B次元官网网址渕oderately compromised.B次元官网网址�

Roughly 90 per cent of residents draw their water from individual or group wells fed from the aquifer, while 10 per cent draw from surface sources such as lakes and streams, Fletcher said.

That said, educating the entire community on their water sources and how to protect them is the main focus of a new project. Information, likely included in property tax mailouts, will offer ways to conserve water and help diminish threats, such as properly maintaining their septic tanks.

Back in December 2012, a three-phase ground water study was undertaken by Golder Associates Ltd., who made recommendations on how to help protect the aquifer. The study results are posted on the DistrictB次元官网网址檚 website, but Fletcher said no formal implementations of them has been made.

ThatB次元官网网址檚 where the University of Victoria students come in, as the District has enlisted the help of department of geography assistant professor Michele-Lee Moore. Three groups of her third-year water resources management students are in a case study competition that will see them work with GolderB次元官网网址檚 recommendations, to determine the best way to implement a public education and communication strategy.

Fletcher is excited to see what the students will come up with and said Moore is B次元官网网址渧ery enthusiastic about our project.B次元官网网址�

Moore, who holds a case study competition every year and is always looking at engaging communities, thought it would be a good fit for her students, as they can learn about a real project.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a chance for them to start applying what theyB次元官网网址檝e learned,B次元官网网址� she said, adding it is not an easy project to undertake in the time frame of a semester. B次元官网网址淎 big part is just developing familiarity with a big time issue. It gives them a taste of how complex these issues are.B次元官网网址�

She hopes the projects will generate new ideas for the community.

While Fletcher is on the panel of judges that will pick the winning project, he said the District may pull pieces from all of the projects to take action. The sustainable land-use committee will forward a proposal to council, most likely with the recommendation to implement it.

katie@goldstreamgazette.com