The city is looking to construct an emergency water intake system to provide running water to residents in the case of a chemical spill or mechanical failure affecting water at the primary intake along the South Thompson River.
(SHANNON QUESNEL / iNFOnews.ca)
December 08, 2014 - 12:01 PM
CITY A STEP CLOSER TO EMERGENCY WATER SERVICE
KAMLOOPS - If there is a chemical spill in the South Thompson River the city would not have any usable indoor water. No water to drink, no water to boil — not even water to flush.
The primary water intake system is located along the South Thompson River close to the Kamloops Centre for Water Quality at 1315 River St. Currently this location is the only source of potable water for much of the city.
Between the possibility of contamination from a major chemical spill and the risk of a major mechanical or electrical failure at the River Street pump station, a 2007 study rated the risk level as moderate to high.
Work was done to safeguard the intake but to further reduce the risk of not having any usable indoor water the city purchased a property on Yates Road along the banks of the North Thompson River in 2010. After studies, reviews and consultations, which included identifying all potential contamination sources, staff are now ready to move forward with the design and construction of an emergency water intake system at that property.
The planned pump house will have chlorination equipment to make the water usable indoors, but will not be able to treat the water, which means any water used through the emergency water supply would be put under a boil water advisory.
The consultation and designs fees will cost nearly $600,000 while construction is anticipated to cost in the $9 million range. Detailed design and cost estimates are expected by September 2015 and staff hope to proceed with construction by 2016. The city has applied for funding to cover at least some of the associated costs.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Jennifer Stahn at jstahn@infonews.ca or call 250-819-3723. To contact an editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
The current water intake is located along the South Thompson River and an emergency backup one is being planned for along the North Thompson River now as well.
Image Credit: City of Kamloops
News from © iNFOnews, 2014