Semiahmoo First Nation battles White Rock over water

The Semiahmoo First Nation's access to the City of White Rock's water supply could soon go down the drain.

After months of heated negotiations, the city has given the Semiahmoo First Nation 18 months to find a new source for its water before it turns off the tap.

"It'll be a crisis situation. I hope that I don't see that day, because I'm positive I will find an answer before that," says Joanne Charles, a Semiahmoo council member.

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Earlier this year, Semiahmoo First Nation councillors met with the city to discuss a new agreement, but a conflict soon emerged, centering on a pump station on Semiahmoo land.

The First Nation wanted the city to move the pump station to city property — which would cost as much as $3 million.

If the pump station remained, members said they would charge city staff to come on to their land every time they needed to service it.

White Rock mayor 'astounded'

"I was astounded," said White Rock Mayor Wayne Baldwin.

"Putting out certain demands that we weren't allowed to trespass on their property or people would be arrested if they did ... we've got this setup now where we're required to relocate a pump station which is on the edge of their property, at a cost of $2 to $3 million, and we're saying that doesn't make sense."

A city spokesperson pointed out the Semiahmoo First Nation falls entirely within the City of Surrey's municipal boundary, not White Rock, and that there is no formal agreement between the City of White Rock and the First Nation for water.

The spokesperson also said that attempts made by city staff to meet with the Semiahmoo council members — to finalize agreements — had been denied since June.

For their part, Charles characterized the demand as part of negotiations, saying her members would be willing to find a compromise if the city would budge on water rates and limits on how much water could be used.  

The City of White Rock said it's open to extending the 18-month deadline, and doesn't want to jeopardize people's health.

But because the Semiahmoo First Nation says it may take as long as five years to find a new source of water, members say they're already considering talks with the City of Surrey.