Vernon has tapped into government support for a substantial water improvement project. The Greater Vernon Services Committee was told by staff Thursday that the provincial government has given the green light to funds for the Duteau Creek treatment plant. “It’s been indicated that it’s coming momentarily but we’ve been hearing that since early July,” said Bill Di Pasquale, project manager. It’s not known how much the grant will be worth, but chairman Gary Corner says it will benefit the $24 million project. “It would be wonderful if we got a fairly substantial grant,” he said. The treatment plant has been on the books for some time but a lack of commitment from Victoria has held it up. “We can’t start construction if we have a grant application in. As soon as you start building, you lose the grant,” said Corner. The treatment plant is anticipated to be fully operational by March 2009 and it will address the issues of turbidity, colour, giardia and cryptosporidium. Cotsworth said the project should greatly minimize the need for boil water advisories on the Duteau Creek source. Once that project is completed, funding will be sought for a second phase. At a price tag of $10 million, the second phase of construction will see a filtration system installed. GVSC was informed Tuesday that the land purchased for the Duteau Creek treatment plant has been removed from the Agricultural Land Reserve. A tender for site grading will go out by early August and the contract for construction should be issued by Dec. 31.
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