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Kamloops residents are going to subsidize a water system for Westsyde farmers as the city looks to set up a temporary pump for next growing season.

A lengthy Nov. 7 city council debate ended with water rates doubling for Noble Creek farmers, but also an increased cost to everyone else in the city.

The temporary system is estimated to cost up to $700,000, with three-quarters of that coming from drinking water funds, meaning water rates are set to go up roughly four per cent to cover the expense.

Kamloops city council tried this spring to get its hand out of Noble Creek irrigation, but the issue just keeps returning to the table.

The Tuesday vote came as erosion along the riverbanks threatened the pump system this spring, leaving the city to cut its initial shutdown date of 2028 back to the end of this year's growing season.

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Staff have since been meeting with farmers in the months following council's vote to shut the system down entirely.

Adam Woodward of Privato Winery said he's optimistic a temporary system will help the 40 farmers in the area get by for another season as they look to find permanent solutions once the city cuts ties with the Noble Creek system entirely.

While residents are set to subsidize the temporary system in 2024, council also feared it would place too high a cost on water users already facing a 25% rate hike.

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The proposed rate hike comes as the city faces a needed $10 million repair to its water intake, along with $3.2 million to payout each Noble Creek farmer that was cut off from irrigation.

In a 5-4 vote, council decided they will reconsider the rate hike, asking staff to come back with more options to pay for drinking water in 2024.

City staff are set to return with options that could include pulling from reserve funding or taking out a loan.

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