Historic deal could mean millions in funding

Monday, 25 March 2013 18:00 J.P. SQUIRE Kelowna Daily Courier:

The five water suppliers in the city have a historic agreement - the first in B.C. - for $150 million worth of water quality improvements.  On Monday, city councillors endorsed an implementation plan presented by the Kelowna joint water committee designed to satisfy provincial conditions for the key ingredient: grants to pay for what could be $400 million worth of upgrades in the long term.  The province currently refuses to contribute toward projects by Kelowna's four irrigation districts. But that appeared to change in 2012 after 1,065, or nearly one-third, of South East Kelowna Irrigation District (SEKID) customers petitioned against a controversial $22-million plan that had no provincial or federal assistance.  Afterward, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development Bill Bennett said the province would be prepared to consider assistance, but only if all the water purveyors in the Kelowna area would collaborate to identify the top priorities and come up with an integrated water supply plan.  Andrew Reeder, chairman of the KJWC's technical committee, told council that participants are "in a hurry" to submit the plan to provincial officials before the May 14 provincial election.  Coun. Colin Basran, council's representative on the joint water committee, noted all five water suppliers agreed to put someone else's interests above their own - "quite a big step, and it shows how far they've come."  "This is an innovative and co-operative process to ensure potential local water improvement projects are prioritized to receive funding grants, to ensure standardized service levels between water purveyors and to facilitate greater integration of local water systems," said Gordon Ivans, chairman of the joint water committee.   The Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development and Interior Health Authority staff have reviewed and support the plan, council was told.  "It has taken a lot of work by the technical committee representing the five major water utilities," said city manager Ron Mattiussi. "The objective is to provide the best overall water quality solutions for all Kelowna residents. And this is an important move in that direction."  "The focus for the Kelowna integrated water supply plan and implementation plan is to fund water quality and to streamline operational and decision-making processes. So that regardless of whatever form of water governance there may be in the future for our area, that the proper things are being done now," said Robert Hrasko, a joint water committee member and administrator of the Black Mountain Irrigation District.   The SEKID upgrade, for example, could have nearly quadrupled bills in the coming years without any provincial or federal dollars.  "The message we have heard time and again is that the community is in favour of the project, but is not willing to move forward without funding assistance," SEKID board chairman Brian Wright said in late October.   In early November, a 400-page consultant's report considered by city council put the tab at $49 million in just the next three years. Over the longer term, the costs could reach nearly $400 million.   Councillors accepted the consultant's report which indicated which water upgrades are the most urgent. Council also endorsed SEKID's plea to receive government support for its water improvement plan.