Re-Work of Master Water Plan Right Move

Posted on 6/1/2015 by Ron Manz 107.5 KISSFM
Greater Vernon's Citizens for Changes to the Master Water Plan have expressed their approval of local politicians committing to create a new water plan last week. Citizen's chair Terry Mooney says that decision is a first step in rethinking the idea of using the Duteau Creek system for farm usage. He says the high cost of filtration for irrigation water is driving the price up for everyone. "The fact that they are treating the water from the Duteau Creek system for agricultural use, that's the single most expensive element in the whole water picture, so domestic waters are paying for that as well as consumption rates. It's the filtration that's costing a lot of money." He says the high cost of water locally is largely due to a $400 flat fee on water bills. That's because of the up front, front loaded base costs and those base costs are what the Regional District of the North Okanagan uses to cover their capital projects and the continued development of Duteau Creek for fresh water." Mooney says the referendum defeat last fall showed politicians residents are not going to stand for high water bills when there are ways to cutting those costs. "They are going to have to do something obviously. If you have a commodity and you price it beyond people's ability to pay, something has to happen. You either have to cut your costs or reduce your services or something different would have to happen." Mooney says a petition they have been circulating has the support of close to a thousand signatures asking for an independent review of the Master Water Plan.