Image Credit: FILE PHOTO
March 01, 2017 - 2:27 PM
The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen is continuing its efforts to rehabilitate and upgrade aging water infrastructure in Regional District owned community water systems.
Design work to replace old watermain pipes has recently started in the Naramata water system.
Seven sections of pipes have been identified as high priority when factors such as remaining life expectancy, impact to the overall system, number of connections, and recent leakage events were examined. Ecora Engineering & Resource Group Ltd. (Ecora), based in Penticton, has been contracted to complete the engineered drawings, tendering, construction administration and inspection services. Residents will be seeing more of the Regional District and Ecora around Naramata as the design progresses.
The Regional District plans to complete the construction of one of the priority areas during the summer of 2017. The remaining areas will be constructed as funds become available. In an effort to construct these seven areas in a shorter timeframe, the Regional District submitted an application to the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund (CWWF) grant program in November of 2016. The CWWF grant program could provide an opportunity to reduce some of the backlog of watermains requiring replacement in the Naramata water system.
“Receiving the grant funding from the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund would be a huge benefit to the Community of Naramata”, states Electoral Area “E” Director, Karla Kozakevich. “It would enable us to proceed with high priority watermain replacements that will take 8 to 10 years without the funding”.
The number of watermain replacement areas constructed in 2017 will be dependent on grant funding approval. If the Regional District is awarded the CWWF funding, construction will proceed with potentially all of the replacement areas with a completion deadline of March 31, 2018. This accelerated construction schedule is a large undertaking and can provide an inconvenience for the community. The Regional District is committed to keeping the community informed and will work with the residents and businesses to minimize disruptions.
For more information or general maps of the proposed seven areas of rehabilitation & expansion, please visit www.rdos.bc.ca or contact Candace M. Pilling, Engineering Technologist, at (250) 490-4210 or info@rdos.bc.ca.
News from © iNFOnews, 2017