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November 28, 2024 - 5:30 PM
West Kelowna is investing millions of dollars into water treatment plant upgrades, but the city isn't reimbursing people for money they spent flushing bad water out of the pipes.
The new Rose Valley water system and treatment plant have experienced significant problems since the plant came online at the end of 2023. Residents reported brown, smelly water, and the city found unsafe levels of manganese in the water among other issues.
West Kelowna city council heard a report about the Rose Valley water system and its various problems at its meeting, Nov. 26.
Council were asked to vote on whether or not to pull money from the Rose Valley reserve funding to upgrade the plant and also if the city should reimburse people for the money they spent flushing the bad water from their pipes.
People on the Rose Valley system had to use about $50 worth of water to flush out their pipes, so city staff recommended that council vote to give people a $50 credit. In total the rebate would cost the city approximately $425,000.
“Many of our residents within this utility, it costs some money to help us do the job in flushing out those systems. So I'm in favour of it,” Mayor Gord Milsom said.
READ MORE: West Kelowna water customers demand transparency, accountability from city council
Councillor de Jong said he was concerned that the city might need the $425,000 for future water utility expenses.
“What I'd rather do is have staff really dig in. Let's see if we can find some more federal or provincial funding through grants,” de Jong said.
Mayor Milsom said the city should be applying every hear for whatever grant opportunities there are for the water utility adding, "there's no reason why we can't do both in my mind.”
A city staff presentation to council said it was important to rebuild trust with residents after all of the challenges with the water system over the past year.
Hundreds of residents signed a petition demanding more transparency and accountability from the city about their water.
City council approved $2.5 million for upgrades to the plant to prevent further problems with manganese and other contaminants, but the voted against the $50 credit to reimburse Rose Vally water customers.
Councillors Garrett Millsap, Carol Zanon and de Jong voted against the credit.
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