Photo: Contributed - lumbydays.ca

The Village of Lumby has been awarded $1,711,938 for a sustainable water plan aimed at revitalization.

Mayor Kevin Acton believes the funds could help the community get back on its feet.

The massive sum for the village comes from the federal Gas Tax Fund.

“This project will renew aging and undersized water infrastructure in our downtown core as well as the southern component of industrial park lands,” stated a village press release Friday.

“The benefits to Lumby are significant. Increased fire flows, right-sized water lines, and significant improvements to the integrity of the water utility.”

The Village of Lumby is also contributing $120,000 to the project, estimated at $1,831,938.

“This project will create jobs,” Acton said, adding he was excited and grateful for the funds. “This could put the community back on its feet.”

The village held public consultations recently to find ways to improve the local economy which has been hit by a general slowdown in the forestry sector leading to job losses.

Village officials are hopeful revitalization projects, such as this, will encourage new businesses to locate their operations in Lumby.

“This will not only replace old pipes that are probably leaking into the ground but will provide fire flows to the industrial park,” said Acton. “And industrial land in the North Okanagan is very, very scarce.”

Project details include:

• 1,830 metres of 300 mm water main to be replaced
• Well head protection improvements
• Intrusion alarms and communication upgrades at all facilities
• Leblanc Street pressure zone change
• Backup generator for the lower reservoir.