Buyers of new homes in a south St. Vital development will not be allowed to drill wells and will instead have to get their water from cisterns.

At a meeting that stretched into the evening Wednesday, the civic appeal committee ruled the developer of 23 homes on a 57-acre property can proceed, but each home must have a cistern. The homes are slated for 45 Daman Farm Rd, 100 Jean Louis Rd. and 2974 St. Mary’s Rd.

Residents are concerned about the addition of wells because the groundwater is sensitive to salt contamination.

Michelle Olivson, one of about 120 residents who opposed the development, said she’s not sure the city’s decision will protect their drinking water.

“It’s laughable because it is not something the city can enforce,” Olivson said on Thursday.

“The developer is selling

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