Six Mile River Resort, Pine Valley Bakery tired of water issues

A couple of rural business owners are frustrated with health and safety rules around potable water in the territory and think there should be some considerations for businesses operating outside of communities. 

At the Six Mile River Resort in Tagish, an hour south of Whitehorse, Doug Dupont says his business has been required to do endless updates to its water and septic systems at the request of territorial inspectors. 

"Last year we put a new system in and a month later it was no good," he says. "This year we had to spend another $4,000 and they told me that next year there could be another change and we might have to do something different so it's been every year." 

Dupont, who is also a plumber, does much of the work himself and that saves some of the expense, but he says the constant rule changes are difficult for small businesses.

He also points to other regulations and says there should be some consideration for rural operations. His restaurant can seat 30 people and Yukon government rules mean he has to have toilet facilities that can accommodate up to 900 flushes per day. Those rules might be appropriate in a busy city where a restaurant of that size is getting potentially hundreds of clients a day, but Dupont says at a rural restaurant with far fewer patrons, it doesn't make sense. 

Alaska Highway bakery can't get permit to open

Meanwhile on the Alaska Highway 100 kilometres south of Beaver Creek, Olivier and Mylène Le Diuzet continue to battle with the territorial government over water potability issues.

The Le Diuzets have filed a lawsuit against the territorial government in Yukon Supreme Court to get an operating permit.  

In 2014, an initial inspection of Pine Valley Bakery and Lodge found that everything was fine, Olivier Le Diuzet told the CBC previously. Despite usual water testing that showed no contamination, the bakers were later told they needed to install a UV water filtration system that could cost up to $10,000. According to the Le Diuzets, even if they do, there's no guarantee that they'll get their permit.

The couple recently installed a water tank, but it didn't meet government standards. Olivier says the government has requested upgrades that are too expensive and not needed since tests show there is currently no problems with his water.

The government believes there is a risk the ground water could become contaminated from surface water. 

The Le Duizets are commuting to Beaver Creek for work while they wait out the dispute. 

"I feel bad because everything is ready to open," says Olivier. "We're closed because we have not the paper."  

Benton Foster, Manager for Community Health Programs with the Yukon Government, said there are a few options Le Duizet can take, but said the risk of contamination must be managed before a permit can be issued.