Swan Lake Sewer Plan Explored

Posted on 10/15/2015 by Pete McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM
It could be the first step in the Swan Lake area north of Vernon getting its own sewer system. The Regional District's electoral areas B and C along with Spallumcheen and the Okanagan Indian Band will work together to develop a waste water recovery plan. BX-Swan Lake director Bob Fleming says it will look at options for service in the Swan Lake corridor, along with the band land by the lake, and the South Spallumcheen Industrial area. "part of this came from me looking at the Swan Lake corridor and saying, there won't be significant development there unless we have a sewer service. And it's the wrong kind of development that's happening..It's not really what that high profile, high exposure area really deserves," Fleming tells Kiss FM. Fleming says the partnership will also preserve Swan Lake and its surrounding wetlands. "If you are going to develop, you don't want septage or waste going into the lake. Right now, there are few options for people that generate any significant amount of waste. They actually have to go to holding tanks which are just not economically viable." Fleming says the homes and businesses in that area are now all on holding tanks or septic systems. Chief Byron Louis of the Okanagan Indian Band added that the band is in the preliminary stages of designating land for lease and welcomes building relationships with surrounding governments. “It’s great to be working with our neighbours,” says Louis. “More funding opportunities arise when small governments stop competing for provincial and federal grant dollars and start collaborating.” One of the underlying principles of the Partnership is “there is no ‘waste’ water - water is a resource,” and the Plan will focus on water recovery.“Every drop of water that can be recovered will help with drought mitigation,” says Township of Spallumcheen Mayor Janice Brown, “and with our region recently experiencing severe drought conditions, the timing of this project is perfect.” The partnership has hired an engineering consultant to prepare a project work plan.