Leaky sewage system nets another fine for South Okanagan development
A South Okanagan developer was hit with another fine for its leaky sewage system, this time for $158,000.
The sewage system was recently taken over by the regional district, but that didn't stop the province from handing down its third fine in three years because of continued pollution.
The developer responded to environmental regulators and called their methods "stunning and appalling," but it didn't stop the province from stepping in with its third fine in three years against Vintage Views Developments Ltd.
“We request (the Ministry of Environment) respect best practices and participate in good faith dispute resolution process. If we try and fail that is one thing. But to refuse to try makes a different impression. We cannot understand why government staff would ever refuse to participate in good faith settlement or alternate dispute resolution process," the company said in response.
It listed multiple accusations against the ministry's process. The company called it an abuse of power, disproportionate punishment and interference with private property rights, according to ministry documents.
Ministry enforcement director Kelly Mills, however, said the company was fairly given a chance to respond, but it failed to substantiate the claims or provide any new evidence refuting the sewage system failures.
Vintage Views, which had roughly 90 homes connected to its system near Okanagan Falls, has a month to appeal the fine through an independent tribunal.
It hadn't seen any new building permits issued since 2019 due to the overloaded sewage system.
Owned by area businessman Johnny Aantjes, the system wasn't properly being monitored and continued to surpass pollution limits for several years, according to ministry documents.
"The magnitude of the fecal coliform exceedances indicate the facility has failed to disinfect effluent in any measurable way," the document read.
There are nine wells within 500 metres of the sewage disposal field, risking contamination to drinking water in the area, according to the ministry.
Vintage Views has been monitored by the Ministry of Environment since at least 2021 as the wastewater system released untreated sewage above Skaha Lake.
A recent referendum saw voters come out in favour of a regional district takeover of the sewage system, which is expected to need $7 million in upgrades, and nearly double that for its drinking water system.
Vintage Views Developments Ltd. tried at least once before to sell the system nearly a decade ago. That saw no progress because the regional district would only pay $1 to take the responsibility.
When fined $197,000 in 2023, Aantjes told iNFOnews.ca he said the system had improved, but he suspected there was "a push to get private utilities out."
"At the end of the day, they've got a big stick and they're waving it around," Aantjes said. "The system's working better now than it ever has, but to new standards, of which (the ministry is) in charge, they think there's problems."
It's not clear when the regional district will start work on the systems, but it expects to borrow a total $20 million for the upgrades.
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