Water plan moving ahead

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: June 28, 2013 1:00 AM A multi-million-dollar, 24-year upgrade to Greater Vernon’s water system has overcome a major hurdle. Regional District of North Okanagan directors approved the master water plan Wednesday, meeting an Interior Health Authority deadline to have a document submitted by today. “This has been a lot of work,” said Patrick Nicol, board chairperson. The process began in March 2011 when IHA issued an official order for a master water plan to be developed. “We analyzed every aspect of the water system and we looked at a number of options,” said Dale McTaggart, RDNO’s engineering general manager. The preferred option calls for partial separation for irrigation and domestic uses, with treatment at the Duteau Creek and Mission Hill plants. Total capital costs would be about $111 million between 2013 and 2037. “Option two gets maximum separation for the best cost,” said McTaggart, adding that not treating irrigation water will reduce operating expenses. McTaggart believes the option also meets domestic needs, particularly when weather disrupts water supply. “Already two or three times we’ve had to switch water sources. It shows how important it is to have two treatment plants and two sources,” he said. Up to 2017, about $2 million in capital costs can be funded through utility rates but there will be a need to borrow $68 million. Public assent for borrowing will be required either through a petition or  referendum, which could be held in the spring or fall of 2014. It’s anticipated that water rates could double over time. But even if the referendum fails, the plan could still move ahead. “If we do nothing, IHA will likely give us an order (to proceed),” said McTaggart.
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Councillor proposes another option
By Jennifer Smith - Vernon Morning Star  Published: June 28, 2013 1:00 AM
New ideas are coming down the pipeline to get better use of local water and taxpayer’s dollars. A $111 million master water plan has been identified, which could see taxpayers going to a petition process or referendum in November 2014. The plan includes providing filtration at the Duteau Creek treatment plant for $26.5 million and at the Mission Hill plant for $30 million, among other improvements. While the plan is already being submitted to Interior Health for approval, one local politician says it’s not the best use of taxpayer’s dollars, Considering that the majority of domestic water use comes from Mission Hill, Coldstream Coun. Maria Besso suggests the funds be directed solely to that plant. “Instead of building the plant at Duteau, do filtration at Mission Hill,” said Besso, noting that 80 per cent of domestic use is from that station versus only 20 per cent at Duteau. “It would end up costing us the same amount, we’re just doing it in a different order.” Using water usage data from 2011 and 2012, Besso says that in the summer, on a peak day, of the 160 million litres being treated in a day at Duteau it is estimated that only six million litres are for domestic. The remaining 154 million litres are being sprayed on fields for irrigation. “It would be a crime to put filtered water on fields,” said Besso. And in the winter, Besso adds, treatment of the average 225 million litres per month at Duteau costs $363 per million litres. Whereas Mission Hill treatment cost $83 per million litres for the 522 million litres per month. “I think we’re going in the wrong direction,” she said.