By Mike Straus
West Kelowna water users can expect to see rate increases this year as the City of West Kelowna prepares to fund significant upgrades and improvements to bring the municipal water systems into compliance with government regulations.
These improvements are part of the city91裸聊视频檚 Water Master Plan, which calls for system-wide improvements to harmonize the water quality in all five of the municipal systems by 2021.
City of West Kelowna communications supervisor Kirsten Jones says that currently only one of West Kelowna91裸聊视频檚 five water systems has a treatment plant91裸聊视频攖he Westbank system91裸聊视频攁nd that only the Westbank system91裸聊视频檚 water meets government requirements.
91裸聊视频淭he other four systems aren91裸聊视频檛 treating the water in a way that satisfies the provincial and federal regulations. That91裸聊视频檚 not atypical of municipalities of our size. But we were fortunate enough to receive a $41 million grant last year to put toward a new water treatment plant, and we91裸聊视频檙e absolutely thrilled.91裸聊视频�
Jones says that there are still several construction-related projects that the municipality will have to pay for in order to proceed with the water treatment plant, hence why water rates will still rise despite the grant.
The new Rose Valley plant will cost $49 million, she says, plus there will be an additional $17 million project to construct necessary system connections in and out of the plant. The Powers Creek water treatment plant is also in need of upgrades to its storage facilities and fire protection measures, which will cost $7 million. Jones notes that aside from the government grants, additional funds will come from the city91裸聊视频檚 own reserves.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e borrowing from ourselves to pay for the Rose Valley plant. Council considered borrowing the funds externally, but there was a risk that by doing so we could lose the grant, which is time-sensitive. Borrowing externally also requires a referendum, so there was a risk that we wouldn91裸聊视频檛 be able to borrow. Council felt this was too important a project to miss out on, so we91裸聊视频檙e borrowing from ourselves.91裸聊视频�
Jones notes that the city intends to repay the funds borrowed from the reserve within seven years.
The city91裸聊视频檚 water plan calls for the five separate water systems to eventually be integrated and harmonized, however, Jones says there91裸聊视频檚 no immediate plan to connect the systems.
91裸聊视频淭he vision is that we91裸聊视频檒l have one water system, the West Kelowna Water System, with one quality of water. Both plants will produce the same quality of water for every resident, and everyone will pay the same rate.91裸聊视频�
Jones cautions those concerned about the cost of water that it91裸聊视频檚 not easy to compare water rates across municipalities given the inherent differences in the water treatment systems.
While the average annual residential water bill in the City of Kelowna is $365 and the average Glenmore Ellison Irrigation District (GEID) bill is $560 (based on residential property rates and the Okanagan Basin Water Board91裸聊视频檚 estimate of residential water use), by 2021, West Kelowna residents will be paying $907 annually, on average.
However, the GEID only last month ended a water quality advisory that began in 2006, while the City of Kelowna does not have a central treatment plant or a filtration system.
Says Jones: 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 hard to compare water rates with other municipalities because of differing service levels. Only the Westbank System, Kamloops, Penticton, and Summerland have filtered systems 91裸聊视频� everyone else has some sort of chlorine or UV treatment. Water that91裸聊视频檚 only chlorinated doesn91裸聊视频檛 meet federal and provincial regulatory requirements, which is why we91裸聊视频檙e changing things.91裸聊视频�
The city is expecting to break ground on the Rose Valley plant this year. It is expected to be modeled after the Powers Creek water plant, which currently meets all provincial and federal requirements for water quality.
