Concerns about water quality in Spallumcheen are boiling over again.

Some residents claim a manure lagoon breached at a dairy farm on Salmon River Road Feb. 16, but the owner of the operation denies that.

乌鸦传媒淭he snow on top may have been too high but that乌鸦传媒檚 just a guess. It乌鸦传媒檚 a lined lagoon and it乌鸦传媒檚 in good shape,乌鸦传媒� said the owner of Grace-Mar Farms, who didn乌鸦传媒檛 provide his name.

The owner insists he乌鸦传媒檚 on top of the situation, and wouldn乌鸦传媒檛 comment on possible impact on water quality, except to say the ground is frozen and there乌鸦传媒檚 been no leaching.

乌鸦传媒淲e are absorbing everything and we乌鸦传媒檙e not letting any runoff to occur.乌鸦传媒�

Residents are questioning the integrity of their water source.

乌鸦传媒淥ur concerns are multilayered and will come forward as we continue our research,乌鸦传媒� said Wayne Christian, Splatsin chief.

Residents visited the site as soon as they became aware of the situation.

乌鸦传媒淥ne honey wagon was collecting effluent from the breach and hauling it around to the other side of the lagoon and dumping it out so the other honey wagon could pump it up into its tank and then spread it out on top of the snow,乌鸦传媒� said Shelley Baumbrough, a farmer in the area.

Conservation officers have also been present to monitor the breach.

乌鸦传媒淭he conservation officer has promised me that an assessment will be done to determine how many and which wells nearly need to be tested,乌鸦传媒� said Baumbrough.

Members of the Save Hullcar Aquifer Team are accusing the Ministry of Environment of knowing about an incident at the farm for two days before residents became aware of the issue.

乌鸦传媒淭hat us unconscionable, and shows the level of disdain for the people of Spallumcheen, including the Splatsin,乌鸦传媒� said Al Price, with SHAT.

Price also questions if the ministry had ensured the lagoon met standards.

乌鸦传媒淎ll of the people of the Hullcar Valley and Steele Springs are paying the price,乌鸦传媒� he said.

乌鸦传媒淲hat happened Thursday, and the way the ministry responded since then, is unacceptable. They have shown their complete disregard for the health of the people of the Hullcar Valley and Steele Springs, or the environment of the valley.乌鸦传媒�

The situation on Salmon River Road comes at the same time that residents remain concerned about the possible impact of another dairy operation on the Hullcar aquifer.

乌鸦传媒淭he latest test of Steele Springs water came in at 14.4 parts per million. That is the highest it has ever been. So no matter what the government claims to be doing to make sure we have safe drinking water, they have failed miserably,乌鸦传媒� said Price.

The Ministry of Environment could be reached for comment.