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May 01, 2017 - 11:00 AM
KELOWNA - In order to start work on the first phase of a multi-million dollar integrated water plan, city council will have to amend the 2017 capital budget.
The $63.7 million Kelowna Integrated Water project is planned to improve water quality for residents in Southeast Kelowna, according to a City of Kelowna media release. Additionally, the project will supply agricultural irrigation water for Kelowna’s South Mission.
A grant of $43.9 million from the provincial Clean Water and Wastewater Fund has been given to the project on the condition that the South Okanagan Mission Irrigation District, as well as the South East Kelowna Irrigation District integrate with the city's water utility.
“Integration of South East Kelowna Irrigation District into the City Utility offers greater long-term supply and consistency of clean potable water to residents, a stable rate-structure and a separate supply for agricultural irrigation,” Ron Westlake, Special Projects Manager with the City of Kelowna says in the release. “We look forward to working with South East Kelowna Irrigation District and facilitating a smooth transition process for customers until the official integration is complete on January 1, 2020.”
Phase one of the Kelowna Integrated Water plan will separate agricultural and domestic water systems in Southeast Kelowna. Agricultural water will continue to come from Hydraulic Creek, while domestic water will connect to the City’s Water Utility, from Okanagan Lake.
The City says design of the project for the South East Kelowna Irrigation District and South Okanagan Mission Irrigation District will begin this fall with construction in spring of 2018.
Prior to implementation of this project, Kelowna had five separate irrigation districts: South East Kelowna Irrigation District, South Okanagan Mission Irrigation District, Black Mountain Irrigation District, Rutland Water Works and Glenmore Ellison Irrigation District.
Only the South East Kelowna Irrigation District and South Okanagan Mission Irrigation District have agreed to be involved in the new plan.
City council will have a look at the capital budget amendment at its regular meeting on Monday, May 1.
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