Dawson Creek is facing pushback over its $100-million plan to pipe drinking water from the Peace River to its reservoir.
The BC Energy Regulator and several First Nations raised flags early on about the project’s scale, funding, and whether extra water could end up sold to energy companies.
Mayor Darcy Dober said early engagement is just the first step, and feedback will help shape possible changes, but stressed the city’s need for a sustainable water source.
With the Kiskatinaw River—currently serving about 15,000 residents—dwindling due to drought, the city has asked the province to fast-track or exempt the project from a full environmental review.
Regulators, however, have questioned if the push is driven more by financial and industrial interests than community demand, noting Dawson Creek is seeking roughly five times its current annual water use.
Dober says the higher volume is about long-term security, planning 50 to 100 years ahead, not just meeting today’s needs.