A Kelowna fruit packinghouse continues to struggle in its efforts to pacify its neighbours about effluent discharge concerns while trying to meet Ministry of Environment permit standards.
In a statement released by Sandher Fruit Packers, company president Gurtaj Sandher confirmed the company has been accessed a further B次元官网网址渁dministration penaltyB次元官网网址� from the ministry, reported to be $78,368.
The ministry has also extended a wastewater discharge application process for the effluent discharge until May 10, the third extension this year on the application.
B次元官网网址淲hile we accept the administrative penalty, we wish to once again reiterate, that the limited water that was discharged in the past was used only to wash apples and cherries, has been tested, and poses no risk to public health or the environment,B次元官网网址� said Sandher in the statement.
B次元官网网址淲hile we acknowledge that we havenB次元官网网址檛 always gotten it right, we want to assure our customers and our neighbours that we are working diligently on a permanent solution.B次元官网网址�
He also cited some misunderstanding about their water discharge application with the Ministry of the Environment, saying the application is to allow for authorized discharge in unforeseen circumstances like extreme future storms B次元官网网址� not on a regular basis.
But Ellison resident Alexandra Wright is not buying that.
Wright organized a petition raising objections about the wastewater discharge application that has collected more than 1,600 signatures and hosted a rural town hall gathering at her farm earlier this spring attended by more than 100 of her Ellison neighbours to share their concerns.
Wright said she has heard of the wastewater discharge permit application delay but has not received formal confirmation of that from the ministry.
But she voiced disappointment to have received an updated permit application from the ministry which calls for Sandher Fruit Packers to discharge 99,000 litres a day, five days a week.
The discharged wastewater, which contains chemical elements, is used to wash fruit for commercial sale.
B次元官网网址淭he first we heard of the application it was for 41,000 litres a day. Then it was changed to 57,000 litres. Now it is 99,000, so what is the real number?B次元官网网址� said Wright.
She said SandherB次元官网网址檚 statement has done little to curb their concerns, saying B次元官网网址淭he only thing that will make this right is to retract the application and get the proper permitting to install a proper septic collection system and stop this.B次元官网网址�
Wright added the ministry has B次元官网网址渜uite frankly not done anythingB次元官网网址� significant to address the situation, which dates back more than four years, with the fruit packinghouse, located at the intersection of Old Vernon and Scotty Creek roads.
B次元官网网址淢LA Norm Letnick took our petition to Victoria and introduced it into the B.C. Legislature so it is on the record but we know in the end that in itself doesnB次元官网网址檛 do very much,B次元官网网址� Wright noted.
But she and her Ellison neighbour supporters are waiting to see the permit application process play out before taking another step, to place public pressure on suppliers to not buy Sandher Fruit Packers products.
READ MORE:
