RDCK wades into water world
By Nelson Daily Editor
By Timothy Schafer, The Nelson Daily
After years of moratorium on acquiring regional water systems, the regional district will be entering the water service game in six new areas.
The results of the alternative approval process Sept. 11 passed in favour of establishing water service in Balfour, Burton, Edgewood, Ridgewood, Fauqier and West Robson.
On Thursday morning, the Regional District of Central Kootenay board of directors adopted six bylaws establishing the services for the residents of those areas.
The move puts a period on a chapter that followed years of a moratorium on water system acquisition, said RDCK board chair Gary Wright.
“Now that we are moving ahead … there is an opportunity (for these communities) to get their water systems upgraded and managed in a way that is required, hopefully at a cost that is reasonable,” he said.
The budget cost for the six areas in question varies, with Balfour residents sharing in the annual requisition of up to $183,000, Burton will be shelling out $45,000, Edgewood $57,000, Fauqier at $85,000, Ridgewood $38,000 and West Robson at $92,000.
Those costs were put up front in the AAP process, so that the residents were able to see how much of an additional cost they would bear before they decided on their vote.
Costs were laid out in several public meetings prior to the acquisition of the water systems, making it clear there would still be community involvement in the form of an advisory committee.
“But the ultimate decision making, and the managerial responsibility for the system, lies clearly with the regional district,” said Uli Wolf, RDCK general manager of environmental services.
There won’t be any money coming from the RDCK for upgrade of the systems. Each system is designed to stand alone, but the regional district could secure provincial grants, something the communities themselves were unable to do.
In Ridgewood, the annual budget was based on the assumption that the Shannon Orchard development was going forward, and that the two water systems would be jointly using a single water treatment plant and storage tank.
The liability inherent in operating the water systems led members of the six communities to seek the help of the RDCK.
The moratorium was necessary to allow the RDCK to figure out the rules for managing new water systems, and for the Interior Health Association to clarify what an approved water system would be.
