Harder well THE CITY’s water has changed and discerning tea drinkers are not amused. Claude Chepil is one tea enthusiast who says that he now notices a precipitate coming out of the water when he makes tea, Others say they notice a skin that forms on the tea, or a film left behind afterwards, and a dif- ferent smell and taste to the water. The city turned on its new water well last month and is now pumping 100 per cent well water to city homes, ending the reliance on sur- face sources like Deep Creek and the Skeena River, City director of engineering Stew Christensen, who has taken a number of calls from tea drinkers, says the change is due to the hardness of the well water. “The water is about twice as hard as it was before,’’ Christensen says. “But relatively speaking it’s still soft water. We had very, very soft water before,” Christensen is advising the tea connoisseurs to experiment with different brands. “My sister in Prince Albert used a brand of tea that we thought tasted terrible here, but it tasted just fine there. Different water will do that.” The harder water means soap and detergents don’t form suds as easily. And the dissolved minerals in the water mean deposits in bathtubs will build up faster, On the up side, Christensen says the water is without question healthier and safer to drink. “Healthwise there is no doubt we are in far better shape than any community in the pro- vince that is using surface water,” he said. That means Termace residents need not worry about the province-wide advisory on the disease cryptosporidiosis — a parasitic infection that has contaminated the drinking water in four Okanagan cities, Fluoride is still being added to the water, as is The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, October 2, 1996 - A3 water fouls tea CLAUDE CHEPIL is one of many local taa drinkers who's noticed a film or scum in the water since the city's switch to using the new Frank St. well. chlorine, but Christensen says less chlorine is required since the switch to well water. “We're adding about a 20th of what we were putting in in the way of chlorine before,’’ he said, Almost (he same amount of chlorine is in the water when it arrives at homes, however, be- cause not as much of the chemical is used up along the way. “Before we would put in a whole lot more at the source, but because of organics in the water that free chlorine would be eaten up.”’ But Chepil is one tea drinker who's nat con- vinced by the hard water explanation, adding the water scum doesn’t occur if you filter the well water, “There’s something in the water,’’ he said. **They’re trying to slide by this one,”’ Airport land plea gets second look VICTORIA will take another look at the city’s plea for Crown land to centre. much needed land ia the city weeks ago, Municipalities convention two we're trying to avoid a general tax levy for the airport,”” Talstra said. make the airport viable. Mayor Jack Talstra said municipal affairs minister Dan Mil- ler agreed to reconsider the matter although his bureaucrats have steadfastly refused any change in policy, The province to date has maintained the city can have the land under the runways and exist- ing buildings. But it won’t tum over clear title to a larger area of 225 hectares of surrounding Crown land, which the city envisions as a light industrial site, Development there would genera- te property taxes to help operate the airport, and would likely free up The province says it will lease the city the land, but wants 4 percent- age of any revenues the city gets from it. Miller told Terrace councillors he'd like to form a committee along wilh other communities trying to get title to airport lands — Fort Nelson, Williams Lake and Port Hardy — and deal with the prob- lem. “He told us be was not adverse to deeding over Crown land if that’s what it took to make the airport vi- able,’ Talstra said, Councillor David Hull said Miller - was probably the most accomodat- ing government official they dealt with at the Union of B.C. Current estimates peg the air- port’s operating loss at around $162,000 — a major improvement from a few years ago. But council members are still convinced the land is needed for the long-term. “Even if the airport gets to the point that it breaks even on the op- erating side, it’s expected long term capital costs — things like runway repaving and building maintenance — would be tao much,” Talstra said, Talstra said most other airports are now bringing in fees on pas- sengers who land or lake off from that airport. “We're trying to avoid that and He said they're willing to place covenants on the fand or agrce- ments that guarantee any revenues from the land go back into airport operations, Talstra said city officials have told Victoria they will not negotiate with the federal government to take over the airport until the provincial Crown land issuc is resolved. The clock is ticking because sub- sidies run out in the year 2000, Ottawa has said it will negotiate with other groups and even busi- ness proponents if local municipalities refuse to take-over: the airports up for offloading. News in Brief Robber returns cash POLICE SAY a man who robbed a mushroom depot near Kitwanga last weck gave himself up aud returned the moncy because he felt bad about the incident. Police say a man walked into a mushroom buyer's depot on Highway 37, north of Kitwanga Junction, armed with a can of bear repellent. , Witnesses say the man pointed the pepper spray at the buyers and demanded all of their money. He then wok four bundles of cash, totalling some $3,000 and ran into the bush across the highway. The owners chased the subject, and after a short time, the man came back and returned the money to them. When the RCMP arrived, the man confessed that he had ‘‘done something stupid.’? He told police that be could nol burt the victims because they had bcen so nice to him, Noel Patrick Phillips, 20, of Edmonton, is charged with robbery, possession of a prohibited weapon, and possession of a weapon dangerous to public peace. Flu shots delayed FLU SHOTS won’t be available until November this year, because of new research about the effectiveness of the shots. Health officials have learned that antibody levels fol- lowing immunizations may fall below protective levels in four months or less. Since flu shots used to be given out in the beginning of October, that would mean they wouldn't provide protection throughout the whole fu season, The Skeena Health Unit will be holding flu shot clinics throughout November and Decenber. Not the first THE TRIPLETS born to Michelle Hamer of Terrace on Sept. 11 are the third set of triplets born to a local wonlan, The Kuest triplets were born on Aug, 27, 1959 in the old Terrace hospital, and were delivered by Dr. Jack Nicklson. The multiple delivery was a complete sur- prise to Mrs. Kuest. The girls names and birth weights are: Elenor (4lbs 10z), Evelyn (4lbs 7oz) and Ester Glbs 4oz.) The Magnus trio were next, bor May 6, 1969 at Mills Memorial. Charles weighed in at 4lbs, 13.502, folowed by Judy (4ibs 80z), and Peter (Slbs 8 0z,). Dr. Gordon Boyd delivered the threesome. Transfusions tracked PEOPLE WHO received blood transfusions between Jan. 1985 and June 1990 may have been exposed to the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Hospitals around the province are combing their transfusion lists from that period and will try to contact people by mail. They'll be told of the possible ex- posure and that they can have tests done. A health ministry official said letters will be going out by late fall. But she warned it may be impassible to track down all those who received transfusions. An’ estimated 180,000 ‘transfusions took place be- tween Jan. 1985 and June 1990, Those who did receive a transfusion then and who do not want to wait for their letter can contact their physician to arrange for a lest. You Just f H . Can't Pick CANADIAN CEDAR LOG eirer Locksmith! I$ PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE TIt2 AVAILABILITY OF . .. Service... b Quality. 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