Shuswap RV resort loses appeal of $37,000 sewage leak fine

A Shuswap lakeside RV park, that allowed untreated sewage to leak underground, has failed in its attempt to overturn a $37,000 fine.

According to a June 3 Environmental Appeal Board decision, Cottonwood Cove RV Resort didn’t dispute that its sewage system had breached provincial regulations but argued the environmental risk was “minor” or posed “no risk at all” and the fine should be reduced.

In early 2024, the RV resort was fined $37,360 for breaching environmental laws up to 75 times. Its sewage system leaked into the ground, especially during rainy periods, and pipes broke yearly.

The RV resort blamed annual flooding for the leaks and said in an earlier decision it had been investing thousands of dollars to fix the issue which it had been aware of since 2019.

In its appeal, Cottonwood Cove RV Resort argued only seven per cent of its system was within 60 metres of Shuswap Lake and “to its knowledge” Interior Health hadn’t reported water quality failures.

However, the Environmental Appeal Board dismissed the argument.

“(The RV Park) did not submit evidence to corroborate this claim, such as documentation related to water quality monitoring records, information from Interior Health, or reports on water quality for the nearby drinking water wells,” the Board ruled.

The decision said there was no indication of any harm or adverse effects from the sewage, but there was a potential risk of interference with the environment or human health.

The RV park also argued that the ministry was wrong to say there are seven drinking water wells within 300 metres of the effluent field when there are only four. This means the risk is low, the RV park argued.

However, the Appeal Board wasn’t swayed.

“Information on the number of drinking water wells and distance to Shuswap Lake, even if accepted as correct, is not accompanied by further explanation, supporting documentation, or records that are sufficiently persuasive to re-characterize the nature of the contraventions or the real or potential adverse effects of the contraventions,” the Appeal Board ruled.

Ultimately, Cottonwood Cove RV Resort lost its appeal, leaving it to pay $37,360.

There’s no information in the decision about the current situation with the sewage system.