Photo: Contributed

A major review of Greater Vernon's master water plan is almost at an end.

Area politicians will get a chance to look at recommendations from a stakeholder advisory committee at the end of the month.

“A majority agreed all feasible options were considered,” said Juliette Cunningham, Greater Vernon Advisory Committee chairperson.

The two water sources, Kalamalka Lake and Duteau Creek, will continue to be treated by the two plants, Cunningham said.

The committee suggests there be a partial separation of the system so agriculture producers can get cheaper, untreated water.

A main focus will be on funding and how much will be spent to upgrade the system to the Interior Health Authority's demanding standards.

“The good thing about this whole process is we've had the opportunity to sit down and look, rather than just 'here's a plan, let's borrow a bunch of money in order to start it,'” said Coldstream mayor Jim Garlick, a member of the advisory panel. “We've now had the opportunity to say, 'Hey, how much do we need to borrow?' Rather than doing it in a large amount all at once, can we do it in smaller amounts moving forward and being able, as we go along, to reassess.

“This is a very large and complicated plan. You need to be able to move a little bit forward, reassess what you've got and then take those next steps.”

GVAC director Ted Osborne expressed some concern that IHA would put on the pressure for an expensive upgrade to the system.

“The health authority held a gun to our head. They took it off for a while,” Osborne told Thursday's meeting.