Showing posts with label water rates. Show all posts
Showing posts with label water rates. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 18, 2018
Saturday, April 07, 2018
Water Rates Bylaw for 2018-2020
REGIONAL DISTRICT OF NORTH OKANAGAN
BYLAW No. 2768
A bylaw to impose rates for the Greater Vernon Water Service
Excerpts:
Supportive Housing means properties classified by the Province of British Columbia as Class 3 for property taxation purposes as determined by B.C. Assessment. For the purposes of the application of this bylaw, these properties will be considered as a single Non-Domestic unit.
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Interactive Water Rates calculator for residential user: April 1 (2018) Just type in quarterly consumption.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nnItofUqHBkL8mKea_eEcAq-nK3LBa7EVSFqANPjmzw/edit#gid=0
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Interactive Water Rates calculator for residential user: Jan 1 (2019) Just type in quarterly consumption.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13lx3qhNoCJv7DWBeppimTaqfQg4nsZzc3PRWUY71FFQ/edit#gid=0
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Interactive Water Rates calculator for residential user: Jan 1 (2020) Just type in quarterly consumption.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ryXTidYa0fglnPDnS1OWgmfdmK0uyfjfnVtZYd_Jszg/edit#gid=0
BYLAW No. 2768
A bylaw to impose rates for the Greater Vernon Water Service
Excerpts:
Supportive Housing means properties classified by the Province of British Columbia as Class 3 for property taxation purposes as determined by B.C. Assessment. For the purposes of the application of this bylaw, these properties will be considered as a single Non-Domestic unit.
=============
Interactive Water Rates calculator for residential user: April 1 (2018) Just type in quarterly consumption.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nnItofUqHBkL8mKea_eEcAq-nK3LBa7EVSFqANPjmzw/edit#gid=0
==============
Interactive Water Rates calculator for residential user: Jan 1 (2019) Just type in quarterly consumption.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13lx3qhNoCJv7DWBeppimTaqfQg4nsZzc3PRWUY71FFQ/edit#gid=0
==============
Interactive Water Rates calculator for residential user: Jan 1 (2020) Just type in quarterly consumption.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ryXTidYa0fglnPDnS1OWgmfdmK0uyfjfnVtZYd_Jszg/edit#gid=0
Saturday, March 10, 2018
Directors recommend water rates bylaw
ROGER KNOX Mar. 10, 2018 6:30 a.m.LOCAL NEWS MORNING STAR
Final approval is still needed by the Regional District of North Okanagan, but a hike in water rates is on tap. Greater Vernon Advisory Committee directors are recommending adopting the Greater Vernon Water Rates Imposition bylaw. Directors voted to recommend adopting a bylaw that would see implementation of three-year rates for 2018-2020. The rates would be effective April 1 this year, and Jan. 1 for 2019 and 2020. A one per cent increase over inflation in the metered consumption rate and infrastructure base would be included for all three years, resulting in a 2.9 per cent hike. There would be a 3.7 per cent increase in 2018 and 2019 for agriculture and a 2.9 per cent hike in 2020.
The master water plan, endorsed by the RDNO board in November, and accepted by Interior Health in January, sets a long-term goal of 20 years of an annual average life cycle investment of $9 million to $13.5 million per year to ensure sustainibility of the Greater Vernon Water Utility. A financial implementation strategy recommends a short-term goal of a five per cent rate increase phased in over five years over and above inflation. “What staff have done makes sense,” said Area C director Mike Macnabb. “It’s secure. It’s a signal to customers of what we’re going to do over time. Agriculture agreed to the increase. We’ve had these discussions. We have a utility to run and that shouldn’t be predicated on found money (government grants).” Coldstream directors Jim Garlick and Doug Dirk and Vernon director Bob Spiers were opposed. “This is about lobbying and moving into the future, not dismantling the master water plan,” said Dirk of Thursday’s debate.Added Garlick: “I’m not dismantling the master water plan. It’s how are we going to pay for it. One hundred per cent of users get water from Greater Vernon. We have a large stake in this.”
Friday, March 09, 2018
One Final Debate On Water Rates
Vernon, BC, Canada / 1075 Beach Radio Vernon Pete McIntyre March 08, 2018 05:26 pm
The Greater Vernon Advisory Committee has given final approval to this year’s water rates.Most customers will see 2.9 percent hikes, while agriculture rates will rise 3.7 percent. Director Bob Spiers felt the increase was higher than it needed to be.“We’re putting an extra million bucks into reserves. That means the water rates have been increased unduly,” Spiers told CJIB News. Director Jim Garlick said most water customers don’t agree with using one percent of the increase for the master water plan, and he feels more emphasis should be put on getting senior government grants before MWP projects proceed. “Moving forward, we’d be foolish to fund master water plan projects on rate increases. We need to have a plan in place to get more grants,” said Garlick. Part of the master plan calls for securing at least two-thirds funding from senior governments before proceeding. Supporters of the increase say building-up reserves reduces the uncertainty of water-use fluctuations from year to year. “When you look at the water rates, you never know how much water you are going to use, and there’s a balance there. You have to maintain the infrastructure, but putting money away for the future master water plan, it’s not a bad thing,” says GVAC director Akbal Mund. The rates are scheduled to go up a similar amount for the next two years.
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Water Calculators for 2018 to 2020 at:
The Greater Vernon Advisory Committee has given final approval to this year’s water rates.Most customers will see 2.9 percent hikes, while agriculture rates will rise 3.7 percent. Director Bob Spiers felt the increase was higher than it needed to be.“We’re putting an extra million bucks into reserves. That means the water rates have been increased unduly,” Spiers told CJIB News. Director Jim Garlick said most water customers don’t agree with using one percent of the increase for the master water plan, and he feels more emphasis should be put on getting senior government grants before MWP projects proceed. “Moving forward, we’d be foolish to fund master water plan projects on rate increases. We need to have a plan in place to get more grants,” said Garlick. Part of the master plan calls for securing at least two-thirds funding from senior governments before proceeding. Supporters of the increase say building-up reserves reduces the uncertainty of water-use fluctuations from year to year. “When you look at the water rates, you never know how much water you are going to use, and there’s a balance there. You have to maintain the infrastructure, but putting money away for the future master water plan, it’s not a bad thing,” says GVAC director Akbal Mund. The rates are scheduled to go up a similar amount for the next two years.
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- This was a rate decision for the Calendar years 2018, 2019, and 2020.
- Each year for next 3 years will see a 2.9% increase for all domestic customers. Rates will change from being implemented April 1, 2018 to be effective Jan 1, 2019 and Jan 1, 2019.
- Ag Rates will increase by 3.7% for 2018 1nd 2019 and then revert to a 2.9% increase on Jan 1, 2020.
- The Water budget indicates $998,000 will be transferred into reserves in 2018.
- Water Rates Vote at GVAC was 5 to 3. Will have to be ratified at RDNO at next meeting.
- WATER RATES CAN BE FOUND AT P.24-26
Water Calculators for 2018 to 2020 at:
- 2018 https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nnItofUqHBkL8mKea_eEcAq-nK3LBa7EVSFqANPjmzw/edit#gid=0
- 2019 https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13lx3qhNoCJv7DWBeppimTaqfQg4nsZzc3PRWUY71FFQ/edit#gid=0
- 2020 https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ryXTidYa0fglnPDnS1OWgmfdmK0uyfjfnVtZYd_Jszg/edit#gid=0
WATER POLL AT 1075 BEACH Radio: Final Results
Do you agree with G-VAC raising water rates by an extra one percent to build-up reserves for future water needs?
Tuesday, February 06, 2018
Greater Vernon water rate increase set at 2.9%
BARRY GERDINGFeb. 5, 2018 5:30 p.m. COMMUNITYNEWS Morning Star
https://rdno.civicweb.net/document/86925
Greater Vernon Advisory Committee signs off on increase
Water is going to become a more expensive commodity within the Regional District of North Okanagan this year. The Greater Vernon Advisory Committee has signed off on rates increases of 2.9 per cent for residential and commercial users, and 3.7 per cent for agricultural use rates.Stephen Banmen, general manager, finance for the regional district, said the 2.9 per cent figure is based on a 1.9 per cent inflation increase combined with the demands of increased operating costs and building up reserves for future capital projects. The agricultural rate increase was consistent with a 2017 decision to increase agricultural rates 3.7 per cent for three years to match better match revenue form agricultural properties to the most of supply. With approval from the committee, the rate structure is now forwarded to the Regional District of North Okanagan board for final approval.
GVAC director Bob Spiers, a Vernon city councillor, questioned at Monday’s committee budget meeting why the increase had to go beyond the rate of inflation, asking why the additional one per cent can’t be returned to water users as savings. GVAC chair Juliette Cunningham responded that the Greater Vernon water master plan, which was approved by Interior Health last week, made commitments to water quality and supply that require financial long-term planning.
Advisory committee director Jim Garlick, mayor of Coldstream, noted that building up reserves for future capital projects is necessary, but he would like to see a schedule of future capital projects earmarked for those funds. “It doesn’t make sense to me to build up huge reserves without any plan has to how that will be spent,” he cautioned.
The operating budget for the Greater Vernon Water Utility in 2018 will be 17.1 million, up from $15.8 million in 2017. Capital expenditures this year will total $19,936,317, up from $18,500,000 last year. The budget projected revenue for $22,163,324 is divided up between operations (56 per cent), capital plan (23 per cent), debt payments (13 per cent) and transfer to reserves (eight per cent). Close to 95 per cent of that revenue is generated from infrastructure base fees, meter consumption revenue, agricultural rates and meter replacement fees. Banmen said the policy directive is for a 50/50 split between fixed and variable water fees, which for 2018 is targeted at 52.5 per cent infrastructure base fee and 47.5 per cent metered consumption fee. He said the rate restructure of 2017 moved closer to that 50/50 split objective. “The split is highly dependent upon wet/dry years because the total revenue received from metered consumption is weather dependent,” he said. “The first and fourth quarters of a give year are pretty consistent for metered users. The variability shows up in the second and third quarters. If 2018 is a dry year, the splits will be closer to the policy directive than the proposed budget. If 2018 is a wet year the splits will fall further from the policy directive.”
Among the capital projects planned for this year include:
* Flood protection for Kalamalka Lake pump house, $50,000
* BX Intake decommissioning, $410,000
* Von Kyserlink Pump Station upgrades, $200,000
* Predesign/environment impact studies on raising Aberdeen Dam, $250,000
* Water pipe replacement on 28 Ave. from 30 to 32 St. in Vernon, $330,000
* Blackcomb Way to Rugg Road and PRV Main extension, $350,000
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Don Quixote Note:
https://rdno.civicweb.net/document/86925
Greater Vernon Advisory Committee signs off on increase
Water is going to become a more expensive commodity within the Regional District of North Okanagan this year. The Greater Vernon Advisory Committee has signed off on rates increases of 2.9 per cent for residential and commercial users, and 3.7 per cent for agricultural use rates.Stephen Banmen, general manager, finance for the regional district, said the 2.9 per cent figure is based on a 1.9 per cent inflation increase combined with the demands of increased operating costs and building up reserves for future capital projects. The agricultural rate increase was consistent with a 2017 decision to increase agricultural rates 3.7 per cent for three years to match better match revenue form agricultural properties to the most of supply. With approval from the committee, the rate structure is now forwarded to the Regional District of North Okanagan board for final approval.
GVAC director Bob Spiers, a Vernon city councillor, questioned at Monday’s committee budget meeting why the increase had to go beyond the rate of inflation, asking why the additional one per cent can’t be returned to water users as savings. GVAC chair Juliette Cunningham responded that the Greater Vernon water master plan, which was approved by Interior Health last week, made commitments to water quality and supply that require financial long-term planning.
Advisory committee director Jim Garlick, mayor of Coldstream, noted that building up reserves for future capital projects is necessary, but he would like to see a schedule of future capital projects earmarked for those funds. “It doesn’t make sense to me to build up huge reserves without any plan has to how that will be spent,” he cautioned.
The operating budget for the Greater Vernon Water Utility in 2018 will be 17.1 million, up from $15.8 million in 2017. Capital expenditures this year will total $19,936,317, up from $18,500,000 last year. The budget projected revenue for $22,163,324 is divided up between operations (56 per cent), capital plan (23 per cent), debt payments (13 per cent) and transfer to reserves (eight per cent). Close to 95 per cent of that revenue is generated from infrastructure base fees, meter consumption revenue, agricultural rates and meter replacement fees. Banmen said the policy directive is for a 50/50 split between fixed and variable water fees, which for 2018 is targeted at 52.5 per cent infrastructure base fee and 47.5 per cent metered consumption fee. He said the rate restructure of 2017 moved closer to that 50/50 split objective. “The split is highly dependent upon wet/dry years because the total revenue received from metered consumption is weather dependent,” he said. “The first and fourth quarters of a give year are pretty consistent for metered users. The variability shows up in the second and third quarters. If 2018 is a dry year, the splits will be closer to the policy directive than the proposed budget. If 2018 is a wet year the splits will fall further from the policy directive.”
Among the capital projects planned for this year include:
* Flood protection for Kalamalka Lake pump house, $50,000
* BX Intake decommissioning, $410,000
* Von Kyserlink Pump Station upgrades, $200,000
* Predesign/environment impact studies on raising Aberdeen Dam, $250,000
* Water pipe replacement on 28 Ave. from 30 to 32 St. in Vernon, $330,000
* Blackcomb Way to Rugg Road and PRV Main extension, $350,000
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Don Quixote Note:
- The actual rates approval will be set at a rates meeting and then forwarded to RDNO Board for approval. The budget was approved (6-1) NOT the actual rates.
- I actually acknowledged that the 1% that was agreed to last year as part of an annual 1% increase for a 5 year period was correct. I did object to a 1.9% CPI increase that was well covered by the increase in our base rate customer revenue and the $600,000 that will be transferred into a rate stabilization reserve. (excess base fee and consumption revenue over 2017 budget) I therefore voted against the budget and will argue for a smaller increase at the Rates meeting.
- Building up reserves for future capital projects that are life cycle type projects are correct but the reserve level should have a yearly cap. Using customer rates to built up a reserve for major projects such as Mission Hill Filtration in 2023 is not part of the reserve buildup I was assured at the meeting.
Friday, February 02, 2018
SPECIAL (GREATER VERNON WATER BUDGET) MEETING AGENDA
https://rdno.civicweb.net/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&Id=1426
REGIONAL DISTRICT OF NORTH OKANAGAN
GREATER VERNON ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING
Monday, February 5, 2018
Coldstream Municipal Hall - Council Chambers
9901 Kalamalka Road, Coldstream
9:00 a.m.
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Page 1 https://rdno.civicweb.net/document/86919/180131_RPT_GVAC_GVW_Budget_FULL.pdf?handle=3D328E88E1F544FF981BE8B446DFE06F
The proposed budget includes a 2.9% water rate increase, consistent with the recently adopted 2017 Master Water Plan. Agricultural rates are proposed to increase 3.7%, consistent with the 2017 decision to increase agricultural rates by 3.7% per year for 3 years to more appropriately match total revenue from agricultural properties to the cost of supply. The rate increase provides additional funds for the capital program – both current and future. The proposed current revenue funding of the capital program is $5,042,000 (2017 – $5,585,000). The proposed transfer to the statutory reserve for future capital projects is $1,780,000 (2017 - $782,000).
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REGIONAL DISTRICT OF NORTH OKANAGAN
GREATER VERNON ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING
Monday, February 5, 2018
Coldstream Municipal Hall - Council Chambers
9901 Kalamalka Road, Coldstream
9:00 a.m.
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Page 1 https://rdno.civicweb.net/document/86919/180131_RPT_GVAC_GVW_Budget_FULL.pdf?handle=3D328E88E1F544FF981BE8B446DFE06F
The proposed budget includes a 2.9% water rate increase, consistent with the recently adopted 2017 Master Water Plan. Agricultural rates are proposed to increase 3.7%, consistent with the 2017 decision to increase agricultural rates by 3.7% per year for 3 years to more appropriately match total revenue from agricultural properties to the cost of supply. The rate increase provides additional funds for the capital program – both current and future. The proposed current revenue funding of the capital program is $5,042,000 (2017 – $5,585,000). The proposed transfer to the statutory reserve for future capital projects is $1,780,000 (2017 - $782,000).
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Sunday, July 09, 2017
IHA engaging on drinking water
ROGER KNOX MORNING STAR Fri Jul 7th, 2017 1:30pm LOCAL NEWS
It’s a lofty goal for Interior Health: provide clean, safe, reliable water for all people at all times, and be 100 per cent compliant with the guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality. Lofty, yes. Attainable, though? “There is this interesting understanding or belief system through most of the Interior Health region, but certainly in the Okanagan, that water is pristine; that the water around us is clean and fantastic,” said Dr. Trevor Corneil, IHA’s chief medical officer, addressing Greater Vernon Advisory Committee directors on his report: Drinking Water in Interior Health, released in January. “Well it is, but it’s not necessarily clean enough for drinking and that’s the problem.” As an example, Corneil talked about the discovery of arsenic in the water after the Mt. Polley mine disaster in the Cariboo a couple of years ago, and how the discovery was upsetting to the community. “There’s arsenic in all the water in lakes in B.C.,” he said. “The belief system is the water is pure, but that’s not the reality. The reality is water has limitations in terms of health, particularly when dealing with large populations, and we need to address that with all the tools we have in our tool box.” Corneil’s report looks at the progress of water purveyors in meeting provincial standards, and reviews health impacts from waterborne diseases, assesses the number of public notifications in relation to water system improvements and the implementation of a multiple-barrier approach to protecting public health.
Interior Health oversees more than 1,900 individual drinking water systems in its region, and Corneil said IH works collaboratively with its First Nations partners with respect to hundreds more. The IH team within its Drinking Water Program “works hard to understand the challenges and opportunities of each water system.”“Our biggest focus is around community engagement,” he said, referring to the up-and-running website drinkingwaterforeveryone.ca. “The website is an opportunity to begin a dialogue and educate those who need education on what clean water is from a health perspective. That’s a piece we haven’t done at the regional level and we are committed to moving forward with that.”
Corneil told GVAC directors there is support available in terms of funding capital improvements. “There are infrastructure funding grants and capital grants,” he said. “Interior Health’s role is to help provide you with what you need to put together your applications. The better the application,and the more criteria it meets with respect to the Canadian Drinking Water guidelines, the stronger letter of support we’re able to write in terms of funding. “Our job is really to help you as a committee address what grants are available to you and how you might look to fund what is full treatment, including filtration, of both your major sources (Duteau Creek and Kalamalka Lake) in the years to come.”
GVAC chairperson Juliette Cunningham said it’s encouraging for directors that discussions are happening about the recognition that the Regional District of North Okanagan need help in term of funding. “For us that’s been the biggest challenge,” said Cunningham. “It appears to me there is a willingness to work with us.”
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https://rdno.civicweb.net/document/75813
GREATER VERNON ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING
Thursday, July 6, 2017 Boardroom - 9848 Aberdeen Road, Coldstream, BC 9:00 a.m.
D. DELEGATIONS
1. Drinking Water in Interior Health - Report Presentation
Dr. Trevor Corneil, Chief Medical Health Officer, Interior Health Authority Gordon Moseley, Specialist Environmental Health Officer, Interior Health Authority
• PowerPoint Presentation Page 8 - 17
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G. NEW BUSINESS
1. Drinking Water in Interior Health
• Staff report dated June 21, 2017
RECOMMENDATION 3 Page 18 - 77
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Excerpts: (Click to enlarge)
It’s a lofty goal for Interior Health: provide clean, safe, reliable water for all people at all times, and be 100 per cent compliant with the guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality. Lofty, yes. Attainable, though? “There is this interesting understanding or belief system through most of the Interior Health region, but certainly in the Okanagan, that water is pristine; that the water around us is clean and fantastic,” said Dr. Trevor Corneil, IHA’s chief medical officer, addressing Greater Vernon Advisory Committee directors on his report: Drinking Water in Interior Health, released in January. “Well it is, but it’s not necessarily clean enough for drinking and that’s the problem.” As an example, Corneil talked about the discovery of arsenic in the water after the Mt. Polley mine disaster in the Cariboo a couple of years ago, and how the discovery was upsetting to the community. “There’s arsenic in all the water in lakes in B.C.,” he said. “The belief system is the water is pure, but that’s not the reality. The reality is water has limitations in terms of health, particularly when dealing with large populations, and we need to address that with all the tools we have in our tool box.” Corneil’s report looks at the progress of water purveyors in meeting provincial standards, and reviews health impacts from waterborne diseases, assesses the number of public notifications in relation to water system improvements and the implementation of a multiple-barrier approach to protecting public health.
Interior Health oversees more than 1,900 individual drinking water systems in its region, and Corneil said IH works collaboratively with its First Nations partners with respect to hundreds more. The IH team within its Drinking Water Program “works hard to understand the challenges and opportunities of each water system.”“Our biggest focus is around community engagement,” he said, referring to the up-and-running website drinkingwaterforeveryone.ca. “The website is an opportunity to begin a dialogue and educate those who need education on what clean water is from a health perspective. That’s a piece we haven’t done at the regional level and we are committed to moving forward with that.”
Corneil told GVAC directors there is support available in terms of funding capital improvements. “There are infrastructure funding grants and capital grants,” he said. “Interior Health’s role is to help provide you with what you need to put together your applications. The better the application,and the more criteria it meets with respect to the Canadian Drinking Water guidelines, the stronger letter of support we’re able to write in terms of funding. “Our job is really to help you as a committee address what grants are available to you and how you might look to fund what is full treatment, including filtration, of both your major sources (Duteau Creek and Kalamalka Lake) in the years to come.”
GVAC chairperson Juliette Cunningham said it’s encouraging for directors that discussions are happening about the recognition that the Regional District of North Okanagan need help in term of funding. “For us that’s been the biggest challenge,” said Cunningham. “It appears to me there is a willingness to work with us.”
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https://rdno.civicweb.net/document/75813
GREATER VERNON ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING
Thursday, July 6, 2017 Boardroom - 9848 Aberdeen Road, Coldstream, BC 9:00 a.m.
D. DELEGATIONS
1. Drinking Water in Interior Health - Report Presentation
Dr. Trevor Corneil, Chief Medical Health Officer, Interior Health Authority Gordon Moseley, Specialist Environmental Health Officer, Interior Health Authority
• PowerPoint Presentation Page 8 - 17
--------
G. NEW BUSINESS
1. Drinking Water in Interior Health
• Staff report dated June 21, 2017
RECOMMENDATION 3 Page 18 - 77
------------
Excerpts: (Click to enlarge)
Saturday, May 13, 2017
Thursday, March 23, 2017
Agricultural Water Rates Going Up
Vernon, BC, Canada / 1075 KISS FM Ron Manz March 23, 2017 03:00 pm
Agricultural customers in the Greater Vernon Water District will be seeing their rates increasing over the next three years. Currently between $950-thousand and a million, fifty thousand dollars is collected for agricultural water use, but the actual cost is much more. Regional District North Okanagan Chair Bob Fleming says a 3.7% hike will be phased in over a 3 year period. “The rates will be eased up over a three year period to try to balance that so that what is designated or what we can reasonably capture as agricultural costs are being recovered through agricultural rates.” “The costs that can be specifically allocated to agriculture is somewhere between $950,000 and $1,050,000 and right now we are falling a little bit short of capturing that through agricultural rates.” “Right now agriculture is not completed separated from the domestic service.” That domestic service currently collects fees based on 50% from a fixed rate for water use and 50% on variable rates to encourage conservation.
Agricultural customers in the Greater Vernon Water District will be seeing their rates increasing over the next three years. Currently between $950-thousand and a million, fifty thousand dollars is collected for agricultural water use, but the actual cost is much more. Regional District North Okanagan Chair Bob Fleming says a 3.7% hike will be phased in over a 3 year period. “The rates will be eased up over a three year period to try to balance that so that what is designated or what we can reasonably capture as agricultural costs are being recovered through agricultural rates.” “The costs that can be specifically allocated to agriculture is somewhere between $950,000 and $1,050,000 and right now we are falling a little bit short of capturing that through agricultural rates.” “Right now agriculture is not completed separated from the domestic service.” That domestic service currently collects fees based on 50% from a fixed rate for water use and 50% on variable rates to encourage conservation.
Sunday, March 19, 2017
Water Rates Changes to be approved at RDNO Wednesday.
P.148 https://rdno.civicweb.net/document/70671
Below are the 2016 rates and the proposed 2017 water rates effective April 1, 2017.
Link to a residential calculator where you can put in your quarterly consumption amount (in m3) and see how these new rates will effect you. (in my case my 46m3 quarterly consumption will result in an annual reduction of $13.48.)
Try the Beta calculator and estimate your saving or increase.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nnItofUqHBkL8mKea_eEcAq-nK3LBa7EVSFqANPjmzw/edit#gid=0
Below are the 2016 rates and the proposed 2017 water rates effective April 1, 2017.
Link to a residential calculator where you can put in your quarterly consumption amount (in m3) and see how these new rates will effect you. (in my case my 46m3 quarterly consumption will result in an annual reduction of $13.48.)
Try the Beta calculator and estimate your saving or increase.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nnItofUqHBkL8mKea_eEcAq-nK3LBa7EVSFqANPjmzw/edit#gid=0
 |
| 2017 rates effective April 1 (If approved RDNO Wednesday) |
 |
| 2016 Rates |
 |
| 2017 rates effective April 1 (If approved RDNO Wednesday) |
 |
| 2016 Rates |
Friday, March 10, 2017
Water rates up, but down
By Kate Bouey - CASTANET Mar 9, 2017 / 10:47 am
Every drop of water Greater Vernon residents use this year will likely cost 3.7 per cent more. However residents are getting a small break on the base rate fee. The Greater Vernon Advisory Committee is recommending a complicated formula that will see commercial and industrial customers, including the hospital and brewery, pay more for water. Even cheap water for agriculture is going up 3.7 per cent. “We're realigning (rates) so everyone pays the same amount for water so that's a step in the right direction,” said director Bob Spiers following a meeting on Thursday. Spiers is pleased with a recommended change to the base rate from $95 to $90 per quarter – a $20 annual savings for small metered customers. “I'm happier this year than I was last year. We're moving in the right direction as far as covering our costs on the agriculture side and the idea that everyone should pay the same amount for each drop of water that they consume.” Spiers said he uses approximately 46 cu. metres of water per quarter and his bill should decrease by $13.48. If directors had chosen another option, his bill would have gone up by $14.00. GVAC chairperson Juliette Cunningham said the change could be an incentive for people to manage their consumption. “The impact could be quite minimal so it does help people to think about that, how they use their water,” Cunningham said. The changes must be approved by the North Okanagan Regional District board.
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Don Quixote Note: The approval for these rates will be at t5e RDNO next board meeting. They will be effective April 1, 2017 and will appear on your 2nd Quarter bill. (June 30).
When the water budget was approved a month ago there was to be a 3.7% rate increase across the board. This would have meant that the $95.00 Quarterly base fee would have increased to $98.52 (an increase of $14.08 annually).
It was decided that the base fee should reflect the water meter size and there are different base rates dependent on your meter size. There are now 3 meter sized base rates. The smallest meter size which is for most residential customers and most of the small businesses was reduced to $90 per quarter (resulting savings of $20 annually for most customers. )
The other major change is that all ICI (Industrial, Commercial and Institutional Customers) now pay for their consumption at the same rates as Residential clients. The rates for each level of consumption was raised by 3.7% over the 2016 rates.
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Link to a residential calculator where you can put in your quarterly consumption amount (in m3) and see how these new rates will effect you. (in my case my 46m3 quarterly consumption will result in an annual reduction of $13.48.)
Try the Beta calculator and estimate your saving or increase.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nnItofUqHBkL8mKea_eEcAq-nK3LBa7EVSFqANPjmzw/edit#gid=0
Every drop of water Greater Vernon residents use this year will likely cost 3.7 per cent more. However residents are getting a small break on the base rate fee. The Greater Vernon Advisory Committee is recommending a complicated formula that will see commercial and industrial customers, including the hospital and brewery, pay more for water. Even cheap water for agriculture is going up 3.7 per cent. “We're realigning (rates) so everyone pays the same amount for water so that's a step in the right direction,” said director Bob Spiers following a meeting on Thursday. Spiers is pleased with a recommended change to the base rate from $95 to $90 per quarter – a $20 annual savings for small metered customers. “I'm happier this year than I was last year. We're moving in the right direction as far as covering our costs on the agriculture side and the idea that everyone should pay the same amount for each drop of water that they consume.” Spiers said he uses approximately 46 cu. metres of water per quarter and his bill should decrease by $13.48. If directors had chosen another option, his bill would have gone up by $14.00. GVAC chairperson Juliette Cunningham said the change could be an incentive for people to manage their consumption. “The impact could be quite minimal so it does help people to think about that, how they use their water,” Cunningham said. The changes must be approved by the North Okanagan Regional District board.
==============
Don Quixote Note: The approval for these rates will be at t5e RDNO next board meeting. They will be effective April 1, 2017 and will appear on your 2nd Quarter bill. (June 30).
When the water budget was approved a month ago there was to be a 3.7% rate increase across the board. This would have meant that the $95.00 Quarterly base fee would have increased to $98.52 (an increase of $14.08 annually).
It was decided that the base fee should reflect the water meter size and there are different base rates dependent on your meter size. There are now 3 meter sized base rates. The smallest meter size which is for most residential customers and most of the small businesses was reduced to $90 per quarter (resulting savings of $20 annually for most customers. )
The other major change is that all ICI (Industrial, Commercial and Institutional Customers) now pay for their consumption at the same rates as Residential clients. The rates for each level of consumption was raised by 3.7% over the 2016 rates.
**********
Link to a residential calculator where you can put in your quarterly consumption amount (in m3) and see how these new rates will effect you. (in my case my 46m3 quarterly consumption will result in an annual reduction of $13.48.)
Try the Beta calculator and estimate your saving or increase.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nnItofUqHBkL8mKea_eEcAq-nK3LBa7EVSFqANPjmzw/edit#gid=0
Friday, January 06, 2017
Water Hikes Put On Hold
Posted on 1/6/2017 12:35 PM by Pete McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM
Proposed water rate hikes in Greater Vernon have been put on hold. Coldstream council has called for more discussion on the fees, concerned about the plan for 3.7% hikes in each of the next three years. Greater Vernon Advisory Chair Juliette Cunningham says the term of the plan is apparently not an issue. "We have kind of all agreed it would be nice to have a three year cycle, and I think it's pretty typical of a lot of utilities. They try to make it predictable for three years," Cunningham tells Kiss FM. Meantime, the committee has given approval in principal to a new 34 million dollar operating and capital water budget, up ten million from last year. Cunningham says upgrades pipes and systems will be part of the capital works this year. "There's no question we have aging infrastructure. We will have a better handle on that when the asset management is presented to us at the end of February." Vernon director Bob Spiers voted against the plan. "I have grave doubts why we should be charging today's (water) customers to build up reserves for future capital expenditures, such as filtration and others. And that's basically what we have done," says Spiers.
----------------
Below is budget that was passed by a 6-2 vote. (Kiss & Spiers opposed)
https://rdno.civicweb.net/document/64786 (p.25-48)
Proposed water rate hikes in Greater Vernon have been put on hold. Coldstream council has called for more discussion on the fees, concerned about the plan for 3.7% hikes in each of the next three years. Greater Vernon Advisory Chair Juliette Cunningham says the term of the plan is apparently not an issue. "We have kind of all agreed it would be nice to have a three year cycle, and I think it's pretty typical of a lot of utilities. They try to make it predictable for three years," Cunningham tells Kiss FM. Meantime, the committee has given approval in principal to a new 34 million dollar operating and capital water budget, up ten million from last year. Cunningham says upgrades pipes and systems will be part of the capital works this year. "There's no question we have aging infrastructure. We will have a better handle on that when the asset management is presented to us at the end of February." Vernon director Bob Spiers voted against the plan. "I have grave doubts why we should be charging today's (water) customers to build up reserves for future capital expenditures, such as filtration and others. And that's basically what we have done," says Spiers.
----------------
Below is budget that was passed by a 6-2 vote. (Kiss & Spiers opposed)
https://rdno.civicweb.net/document/64786 (p.25-48)
Thursday, January 05, 2017
Proposed water rate increases stalled
by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star North Okanagan posted Jan 5, 2017 at 5:00 AM
Residents in a number of North Okanagan communities aren't sure if their water bills will climb.The Regional District of North Okanagan was supposed to approve water rates for Greater Vernon, Grindrod, Whitevale, Mabel Lake and Gunter Ellison Wednesday, but instead, it was decided that further discussions are needed. "We haven't resolved all of the issues," said director Doug Dirk of the Greater Vernon water utility. It was proposed that a Greater Vernon water rates bylaw be established for three years, and that rates be increased annually over three years based on a 1.7 per cent consumer price index and two per cent for capital improvements. "We have some concerns," said Dirk of issues arising from his home jurisdiction of Coldstream. "We're not comfortable with entrenching a three-year rate into the process. There's not an agreement on a 11.5 per cent increase (combined over three years)."
In terms of the other water utility, more information is being sought before water rates can be confirmed for 2017. "I have had some inquiries from a business that they believe they have paid more than their share," said Herman Halvorson, rural Enderby director. "We will look to see if we are comparable with rates." For the Grindrod utility, the proposed rate is to climb from $580 to $597, while it could go from $686 to $700 for Gunter Ellison. The Mabel Lake water rate could increase from $383 to $404, and it may go from $788 to $828 for the Whitevale utility. RDNO directors, though, have adopted the 2017 water fees for Silver Star. Rates will vary at Silver Star, but for a residential property using 80 cubic metres of water, it will go from $465 to $437, while a commercial property with 200 pillows and a consumption of 2,000 cubic metres will see water go from $7,742 to $8,120.
Residents in a number of North Okanagan communities aren't sure if their water bills will climb.The Regional District of North Okanagan was supposed to approve water rates for Greater Vernon, Grindrod, Whitevale, Mabel Lake and Gunter Ellison Wednesday, but instead, it was decided that further discussions are needed. "We haven't resolved all of the issues," said director Doug Dirk of the Greater Vernon water utility. It was proposed that a Greater Vernon water rates bylaw be established for three years, and that rates be increased annually over three years based on a 1.7 per cent consumer price index and two per cent for capital improvements. "We have some concerns," said Dirk of issues arising from his home jurisdiction of Coldstream. "We're not comfortable with entrenching a three-year rate into the process. There's not an agreement on a 11.5 per cent increase (combined over three years)."
In terms of the other water utility, more information is being sought before water rates can be confirmed for 2017. "I have had some inquiries from a business that they believe they have paid more than their share," said Herman Halvorson, rural Enderby director. "We will look to see if we are comparable with rates." For the Grindrod utility, the proposed rate is to climb from $580 to $597, while it could go from $686 to $700 for Gunter Ellison. The Mabel Lake water rate could increase from $383 to $404, and it may go from $788 to $828 for the Whitevale utility. RDNO directors, though, have adopted the 2017 water fees for Silver Star. Rates will vary at Silver Star, but for a residential property using 80 cubic metres of water, it will go from $465 to $437, while a commercial property with 200 pillows and a consumption of 2,000 cubic metres will see water go from $7,742 to $8,120.
Thursday, December 15, 2016
Water rates to climb
By Kate Bouey - CASTANET Dec 15, 2016 / 3:08 pm |
Greater Vernon Water rates will be going up 3.7 per cent each year for the next three years. The plan got approval Thursday from members of the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee. Vernon director Bob Spiers was opposed, believing rates for water consumption should be based on the budget needed for that year to meet the operating costs of the water utility. “A 3.7 per cent increase across the board for rates would not acknowledge the new customers each year that are added to the system that would bring added revenue to the water function,” Spiers said. “The base fee for each new customer is $95 per quarter ($380 annually) plus revenue from their consumption. “The three year rate increase should be based on the budgeted operating costs over the next three years only, not an across the board hike.” Spiers said the money will just build up reserves and ultimately be used for capital projects, such as filtration at Mission Hill, so the amount of borrowing will be reduced in an effort to persuade the public to okay the project in a borrowing referendum. “All major capital projects should be financed only through grants and/or borrowing so the people who benefit over the next 20 years are the ones who will still be using the water system. “My money is being built up in the reserves and if it is used for large capital works projects then I hope to get a thank you if I move or pass on in the next 20 years.”
GVAC's recommendation will be presented to the North Okanagan Regional District board for approval. It reads: that it be recommended to the Board of Directors that the Greater Vernon Water Rates be increased annually over the next three years based on 1.7 per cent CPI and two per cent to meet the O&M and Capital Improvements resulting in an overall annual increase of 3.7 per cent in the GVW budget.
Greater Vernon Water rates will be going up 3.7 per cent each year for the next three years. The plan got approval Thursday from members of the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee. Vernon director Bob Spiers was opposed, believing rates for water consumption should be based on the budget needed for that year to meet the operating costs of the water utility. “A 3.7 per cent increase across the board for rates would not acknowledge the new customers each year that are added to the system that would bring added revenue to the water function,” Spiers said. “The base fee for each new customer is $95 per quarter ($380 annually) plus revenue from their consumption. “The three year rate increase should be based on the budgeted operating costs over the next three years only, not an across the board hike.” Spiers said the money will just build up reserves and ultimately be used for capital projects, such as filtration at Mission Hill, so the amount of borrowing will be reduced in an effort to persuade the public to okay the project in a borrowing referendum. “All major capital projects should be financed only through grants and/or borrowing so the people who benefit over the next 20 years are the ones who will still be using the water system. “My money is being built up in the reserves and if it is used for large capital works projects then I hope to get a thank you if I move or pass on in the next 20 years.”
GVAC's recommendation will be presented to the North Okanagan Regional District board for approval. It reads: that it be recommended to the Board of Directors that the Greater Vernon Water Rates be increased annually over the next three years based on 1.7 per cent CPI and two per cent to meet the O&M and Capital Improvements resulting in an overall annual increase of 3.7 per cent in the GVW budget.
Greater Vernon water rates climb
by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Vernon posted Dec 15, 2016 at 10:00 AM
The Greater Vernon Advisory Committee agreed Thursday to hike water rates 3.7 per cent annually over three years. “This helps to spread out the pain. It seems reasonable to me,” said Juliette Cunningham, chairperson. Of the 3.7 per cent, 1.7 per cent is tied to the consumer price index, while two per cent is linked to operating, maintenance and capital improvements. Opposition came from director Bob Spiers, who says CPI hasn’t hit 1.7 per cent recently. “It’s an arbitrary figure,” he said. Spiers also blasted the two per cent for capital works. “We’re charging the people of today for projects tomorrow,” he said. However, Cunningham disagreed. “I don’t understand that argument, How do we quantify what people borrowed 20 years ago (for facilities) that we are using today?” she said. Directors have also received an update on the master water plan. It includes a filtration pilot study at the Mission Hill plant and possibly putting off filtration at the Duteau plant until after 2030. Director Mike Macnabb is concerned interest rates could climb as the master plan proceeds. “If we pay as we go, we could pay a lot more,” he said of borrowing. David Sewell, Regional District of North Okanagan chief administrative officer, admits there’s a balance between deferring projects to manage costs and accessing favourable financing rates.
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Don Quixote Note:
My vote against a 3.7% rate increase each year for the next 3 years is based on my belief that rates for water consumption should be based on the budget that is required each year to meet the operating costs of the Utility. A 3.7% increase across the board for rates would not acknowledge the new customers each year that are added to the system that would bring added revenue to the water function that should be used to lower rates. The base fee for each new customer is $95 per quarter ($380 annually) plus revenue from their consumption. The 3 year rate increase should be based on the budgeted operating costs over the next 3 years only not an across the board hike.
The method adopted will simply built up the new rate stabilization reserve and the operating reserve that will be ultimately used in some instances for Capital Projects like Filtration of Mission Hill in 2020-21 so the amount of Borrowing will be reduced and the public will be persuaded to pass the borrowing referendum. All major Capital Projects should be financed only through grants and or borrowing so the people who benefit over the next 20 years are the ones who will still be using the water system. The money built up in reserves through over charging water customers should not be the source of financing for our Master Water Plan Large Capital projects.
My money is being built up in the reserves and if it is used for large Capital Works Projects then I hope to get a thank you if I move or pass on in the next 20 years.
The Greater Vernon Advisory Committee agreed Thursday to hike water rates 3.7 per cent annually over three years. “This helps to spread out the pain. It seems reasonable to me,” said Juliette Cunningham, chairperson. Of the 3.7 per cent, 1.7 per cent is tied to the consumer price index, while two per cent is linked to operating, maintenance and capital improvements. Opposition came from director Bob Spiers, who says CPI hasn’t hit 1.7 per cent recently. “It’s an arbitrary figure,” he said. Spiers also blasted the two per cent for capital works. “We’re charging the people of today for projects tomorrow,” he said. However, Cunningham disagreed. “I don’t understand that argument, How do we quantify what people borrowed 20 years ago (for facilities) that we are using today?” she said. Directors have also received an update on the master water plan. It includes a filtration pilot study at the Mission Hill plant and possibly putting off filtration at the Duteau plant until after 2030. Director Mike Macnabb is concerned interest rates could climb as the master plan proceeds. “If we pay as we go, we could pay a lot more,” he said of borrowing. David Sewell, Regional District of North Okanagan chief administrative officer, admits there’s a balance between deferring projects to manage costs and accessing favourable financing rates.
---------------
Don Quixote Note:
My vote against a 3.7% rate increase each year for the next 3 years is based on my belief that rates for water consumption should be based on the budget that is required each year to meet the operating costs of the Utility. A 3.7% increase across the board for rates would not acknowledge the new customers each year that are added to the system that would bring added revenue to the water function that should be used to lower rates. The base fee for each new customer is $95 per quarter ($380 annually) plus revenue from their consumption. The 3 year rate increase should be based on the budgeted operating costs over the next 3 years only not an across the board hike.
The method adopted will simply built up the new rate stabilization reserve and the operating reserve that will be ultimately used in some instances for Capital Projects like Filtration of Mission Hill in 2020-21 so the amount of Borrowing will be reduced and the public will be persuaded to pass the borrowing referendum. All major Capital Projects should be financed only through grants and or borrowing so the people who benefit over the next 20 years are the ones who will still be using the water system. The money built up in reserves through over charging water customers should not be the source of financing for our Master Water Plan Large Capital projects.
My money is being built up in the reserves and if it is used for large Capital Works Projects then I hope to get a thank you if I move or pass on in the next 20 years.
Sunday, November 20, 2016
Water rates vs sewer rates.
Wednesday, September 07, 2016
Is $2 million enough?
by Kate Bouey - CASTANET Sep 7, 2016 / 5:00 am
The state of the City of Vernon's infrastructure has come under question after a number of recent water main breaks, including two major incidents – one that flooded the lower portion of Kal Tire Place and another that caused the closure of 32nd Street, diverting highway traffic heading north. While the breaks have occurred within city limits, the Greater Vernon Water utility is actually responsible for replacing the pipes, and management is wondering if enough is being spent to do just that. “GVW is in a similar state of most North America utilities in that many of our pipes and infrastructure are nearing their end of life and need to be replaced,” said Zee Marcolin, manager of the water utility. “GVW currently budgets about $2 million per year to replace aging infrastructure.” A study is currently underway by outside consultants to see if that is enough annual cash given the state of the infrastructure. “Within the City of Vernon we have water mains labelled as pre 1926 in our GIS system (computer model of our water system) – which means we are not sure how old they are, but are likely older than 1926,” Marcolin explained. “Most of these pipes are downtown Vernon, where you see construction projects every summer as we are working with Vernon to replace infrastructure every year.” Marcolin said that once the study is complete, water staff will reassess its current allocation and may look to the North Okanagan Regional District board for a hike in the infrastructure renewal budget. “If it is a sizable increase we would likely recommend a phased increase,” she added. Last year, Greater Vernon Water completed a project with UBC that provided the utility with tools to predict high priority areas where pipes must be replaced in order to avoid breakage.
The state of the City of Vernon's infrastructure has come under question after a number of recent water main breaks, including two major incidents – one that flooded the lower portion of Kal Tire Place and another that caused the closure of 32nd Street, diverting highway traffic heading north. While the breaks have occurred within city limits, the Greater Vernon Water utility is actually responsible for replacing the pipes, and management is wondering if enough is being spent to do just that. “GVW is in a similar state of most North America utilities in that many of our pipes and infrastructure are nearing their end of life and need to be replaced,” said Zee Marcolin, manager of the water utility. “GVW currently budgets about $2 million per year to replace aging infrastructure.” A study is currently underway by outside consultants to see if that is enough annual cash given the state of the infrastructure. “Within the City of Vernon we have water mains labelled as pre 1926 in our GIS system (computer model of our water system) – which means we are not sure how old they are, but are likely older than 1926,” Marcolin explained. “Most of these pipes are downtown Vernon, where you see construction projects every summer as we are working with Vernon to replace infrastructure every year.” Marcolin said that once the study is complete, water staff will reassess its current allocation and may look to the North Okanagan Regional District board for a hike in the infrastructure renewal budget. “If it is a sizable increase we would likely recommend a phased increase,” she added. Last year, Greater Vernon Water completed a project with UBC that provided the utility with tools to predict high priority areas where pipes must be replaced in order to avoid breakage.
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
Engineers create water quality measuring tool
by Staff Writer - Vernon Morning Star posted Aug 24, 2016 at 1:00 AM
University of B.C. engineers have created a tool that will help communities measure water quality, as a way to ensure clean and safe drinking water is coming out of the taps. Nilufar Islam, who recently received her PhD from UBC Okanagan, has spent the better part of her career creating methods to improve drinking water quality. Working with Rehan Sadiq, associate dean of the School of Engineering, and Manuel Rodriguez, from Laval University, she developed a water quality index to improve the interpretation of drinking water quality in distribution networks. Disinfectants, commonly used in water to ensure it is safe to drink, can react with natural organic matters in the water, or the distribution system, to create disinfection byproducts (DBPs). These DBPs including trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids are known to have potential reproductive and development effects. It’s like a catch-22,” said Islam.
“Disinfection is necessary to ensure microbiological water quality, but it can produce DBPs when used excessively. DBPs in municipal water may potentially lead to detrimental health impacts. The question became, how can we make sure that our drinking water contains DBPs within acceptable limit without degrading microbiological water quality?” Noting it’s almost impossible for the general consumer to interpret complex regulatory violations, Islam and Sadiq created a tool, known as the non-compliance potential (NCP) index, to make interpreting measurements of diverse water quality parameters as easy as possible. The index has been used recently to study water distribution systems in many Canadian cities. The NCP index is designed to merge difficult to understand data into simple indicators that show municipalities whether their water systems are, or are likely to, contain unwanted byproducts that are created when disinfectants react with organic materials in water system. “As many small municipalities do not have the technical and financial resources to collect and decipher water quality data on a regular basis, tools such as the NCP index could help them target how and where they spend their time and money,” said Sadiq. In assessing the benefit of the NCP index, researchers measured water quality at various points in several water distribution systems. They then measured the systems to determine which areas had or were most likely to have compromised water quality. “With so many small municipalities required to operate and maintain water systems, we feel it is important to ensure they have the tools to understand how their systems are operating and where best to target their capital investments,” said Sadiq. “It wouldn’t be possible to examine the whole system at a time, so helping municipal engineers better prioritize operations is a good way to ensure our water quality is maintained.”
================
http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/publications/healthy-living-vie-saine/water-trihalomethanes-eau/index-eng.php?page=text
Trihalomethanes
University of B.C. engineers have created a tool that will help communities measure water quality, as a way to ensure clean and safe drinking water is coming out of the taps. Nilufar Islam, who recently received her PhD from UBC Okanagan, has spent the better part of her career creating methods to improve drinking water quality. Working with Rehan Sadiq, associate dean of the School of Engineering, and Manuel Rodriguez, from Laval University, she developed a water quality index to improve the interpretation of drinking water quality in distribution networks. Disinfectants, commonly used in water to ensure it is safe to drink, can react with natural organic matters in the water, or the distribution system, to create disinfection byproducts (DBPs). These DBPs including trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids are known to have potential reproductive and development effects. It’s like a catch-22,” said Islam.
“Disinfection is necessary to ensure microbiological water quality, but it can produce DBPs when used excessively. DBPs in municipal water may potentially lead to detrimental health impacts. The question became, how can we make sure that our drinking water contains DBPs within acceptable limit without degrading microbiological water quality?” Noting it’s almost impossible for the general consumer to interpret complex regulatory violations, Islam and Sadiq created a tool, known as the non-compliance potential (NCP) index, to make interpreting measurements of diverse water quality parameters as easy as possible. The index has been used recently to study water distribution systems in many Canadian cities. The NCP index is designed to merge difficult to understand data into simple indicators that show municipalities whether their water systems are, or are likely to, contain unwanted byproducts that are created when disinfectants react with organic materials in water system. “As many small municipalities do not have the technical and financial resources to collect and decipher water quality data on a regular basis, tools such as the NCP index could help them target how and where they spend their time and money,” said Sadiq. In assessing the benefit of the NCP index, researchers measured water quality at various points in several water distribution systems. They then measured the systems to determine which areas had or were most likely to have compromised water quality. “With so many small municipalities required to operate and maintain water systems, we feel it is important to ensure they have the tools to understand how their systems are operating and where best to target their capital investments,” said Sadiq. “It wouldn’t be possible to examine the whole system at a time, so helping municipal engineers better prioritize operations is a good way to ensure our water quality is maintained.”
================
http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/publications/healthy-living-vie-saine/water-trihalomethanes-eau/index-eng.php?page=text
Trihalomethanes
The maximum acceptable concentration (MAC) for trihalomethanes1 (THMs) in drinking water is 0.100 mg/L (100 µg/L) based on a locational running annual average of a minimum of quarterly samples taken at the point in the distribution system with the highest potential THM levels.
Bromodichloromethane
The maximum acceptable concentration (MAC) for bromodichloromethane (BDCM) in drinking water is 0.016 mg/L (16 µg/L) monitored at the point in the distribution system with the highest potential THM levels.
Other Considerations
Utilities should make every effort to maintain concentrations as low as reasonably achievable without compromising the effectiveness of disinfection.
Thursday, August 18, 2016
Water Funding Sources Explored
Posted on 8/18/2016 3:09 PM by Ron Manz 107.5 KISSFM
The Regional District North Okanagan Board has asked staff to amend the financial plan for the Greater Vernon Master Water Plan. The directors want the plan implemented in phases, and want a review of all potential funding sources including using reserves, water fees, borrowing and provincial and federal infrastructure grants. Board Chair Rick Fairbairn says the findings will impact future budgets of local municipalities. "The purpose of this financial plan is to put it together, to go back to GVAC, so they have something to work with." Fairbairn says the new financial plan is needed so respective communities know how much to budget for their share of operations. "We've gone back and taken the recommendations from the stakeholder advisory group to consider implementation and where we are going to get the funding and the financial arrangements to that they can make some decisions on it." Fairbairn says all revenue sources will be looked at particularly outside avenues at the national and provincial level. "Yes, borrowing for federal and provincial infrastructure grants will be explored. That's what this plan will identify." Fairbairn says with the water plan referendum defeated, a new financial phased in plan is necessary so infrastructure spending can take place.
The Regional District North Okanagan Board has asked staff to amend the financial plan for the Greater Vernon Master Water Plan. The directors want the plan implemented in phases, and want a review of all potential funding sources including using reserves, water fees, borrowing and provincial and federal infrastructure grants. Board Chair Rick Fairbairn says the findings will impact future budgets of local municipalities. "The purpose of this financial plan is to put it together, to go back to GVAC, so they have something to work with." Fairbairn says the new financial plan is needed so respective communities know how much to budget for their share of operations. "We've gone back and taken the recommendations from the stakeholder advisory group to consider implementation and where we are going to get the funding and the financial arrangements to that they can make some decisions on it." Fairbairn says all revenue sources will be looked at particularly outside avenues at the national and provincial level. "Yes, borrowing for federal and provincial infrastructure grants will be explored. That's what this plan will identify." Fairbairn says with the water plan referendum defeated, a new financial phased in plan is necessary so infrastructure spending can take place.
Wednesday, July 06, 2016
Non-Potable Water Service Rates and Construction of Separation Projects
https://rdno.civicweb.net/document/12460
GREATER VERNON ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING Thursday, July 7, 2016 Boardroom, 9848 Aberdeen Road, Coldstream, BC 8:00 a.m. REGULAR AGENDA
===========
Excerpt from above Agenda
Greater Vernon Water Procedures for Administering Non-Potable Water Service Rates and Construction of Separation Projects
https://rdno.civicweb.net/document/12377/160623_RPT_GVAC_Non_Potable_Info.pdf?handle=3734CCEB7A414A82BEE3FA0637E24ECF
GREATER VERNON ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING Thursday, July 7, 2016 Boardroom, 9848 Aberdeen Road, Coldstream, BC 8:00 a.m. REGULAR AGENDA
===========
Excerpt from above Agenda
Greater Vernon Water Procedures for Administering Non-Potable Water Service Rates and Construction of Separation Projects
https://rdno.civicweb.net/document/12377/160623_RPT_GVAC_Non_Potable_Info.pdf?handle=3734CCEB7A414A82BEE3FA0637E24ECF
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