Measures can be taken now to reverse the falling water table in the Hopington aquifer, says Doug McFee of the Salmon River Enhancement Society which is hosting a water forum tomorrow (Thursday) at D.W. Poppy Secondary, 23752 52 Ave., starting at 7 p.m.

"The big questions are whether we can address the water issues quickly enough to avoid damage to the Salmon River and whether we can address the issues adequately without having to introduce water metering," he added.

One of the speakers is Jim Clark, a local well driller and groundwater expert, who estimates that the Hopington aquifer is losing 2,500 gallons per minute. He will speak about this and artesian wells which waste large volumes of water.

"We think that capping wasteful flows from artesian wells may address as much as 40 per cent of the issue," McFee said.

The other speakers are Ted Van der Gulik of the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Land, and retired UBC professor Hans Schreier. Both are experts on water and have seen water issues successfully addressed elsewhere although in most instances success has been achieved with metering.

Van Der Gulik is an expert on increased agricultural efficiency while reducing water usage. The majority of water drawn from the Hopington aquifer is used for agricultural purposes, so reducing the amount used and the amount lost to evaporation is the other big issue besides artesian wells, McFee said.

Van der Gulik may also speak to improving infiltration of rainwater into the ground to recharge the aquifer.

Dr. Schreier will speak about metering, other ways to stabilize the water table and water quality issues. The original reason for the moratorium on development in the Hopington aquifer area was high nitrate levels in well water caused by excess manure and nitrates from septic tanks. This problem has continued since being discovered in the early 1990s.

Schreier also has extensive evidence of the negative effects of development on a watershed.

There is growing concern that some people want to bring in municipal water to the watershed and develop the area, McFee said. "Development typically makes the problem worse rather than better, he added.

A large part of the meeting will be devoted to questions from the public.