Coquitlam has some of the healthiest rivers, streams and creeks in the Lower Mainland.
But the water quality isn’t so good in neighbourhoods that aren’t developing, according to the city’s latest report on monitoring.
Jaime Boan, Coquitlam’s general manager of engineering and public works, said the watercourses in the city’s 27 watersheds have been getting A’s on their report cards over the past five years; however, some creeks in the southwestern neighbourhoods — like Burquitlam and Maillardville — need help.
They include:
- Stoney Creek
- Booth Creek
- Como Creek
- Rochester Creek
The city samples the water for indicators such as temperature, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, E.coli, fecal coliform, nitrates, metals, conductivity and pH levels.
And, based on the results, it marks each test with a green (good); yellow (satisfactory); or red (needs action) colour.
The city is working with stakeholders such as the Stoney Creek Environment Committee, the Coquitlam River Watershed Roundtable and the Hoy–Scott Creek Watershed Society to improve the water quality and quantity.
Boan said development benefits watercourses as new infrastructure, such as infiltration systems (to capture surface water runoff), is installed.
Next year, the municipality has money set aside to boost action on the southwestern creeks that are trending downward, he said.
As well, the city is looking at incentivizing developers and builders who create more pervious areas for single-family homes, “which are being built with increased impervious areas that affect both creek-base flow and peak flow and, therefore, water quality,” Boan wrote in his report for the council-in-committee meeting on May 1.
Boan also said city staff will increase efforts in the southwestern regions to educate the public about illegal dumping in storm systems; the campaign will specifically target the owners of restaurants, food trucks and recreational vehicles.
Coun. Brent Asmundson, who has been on the city’s sustainability and environmental advisory committee for years, said the provincial fine of $500 for dumping is too low.
Coun. Matt Djonlic agreed, saying the penalty is a “slap on the wrist” for some businesses.
“We just can’t have people poisoning our creeks and getting away with it. It’s unacceptable,” he said.
Still, Asmundson said he’s buoyed over the Coquitlam River results, which show nearly all of the samples met or exceeded the regional water quality guidelines.
The river used to be on the city’s “watch list” but it is now off, he said.
Meanwhile, the city is providing tips to residents to protect Coquitlam’s creeks, streams and rivers:
- wash cars on a lawn or at a car wash
- sweep walkways and driveways instead of hosing them down
- avoid pesticides in your yard
- don’t drain hot tubs and swimming pools into the storm drain; use the sanitary system instead
- keep pets away from streams
