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West Kelowna  

Pushing the water plan

In light of a recently announced provincial water fund, the City of West Kelowna is looking at accelerating its Water Master Plan.

Premier Christy Clark announced the $148.5 million clean water and wastewater fund during her keynote address to delegates at the Union of BC Municipalities Convention in Victoria.

Upon hearing the news, Mayor Doug Findlater said he immediately asked CAO Jim Zaffino to bring a report on the options available if the water plan were accelerated.

This would include information such as engineering reports.

At the forefront of the plan is the Lakeview water system, where users have been on a water advisory since the beginning of August.

Any projects approved through the fund would still require local contributions. The province and feds would contribute 83 per cent with municipalities picking up the remaining 17 per cent.

"We need to ensure there are some reserves in place for the Lakeview water system," said Findlater.

"We haven't put any money aside, but we are going to have to look at the financial situation there and see what the rates are, and if it's adequate in order to build a reserve in order to contribute towards this."

Findlater calls the provincial announcement an opportunity.

The mayor was also encouraged following a meeting with BC Hydro Wednesday.

The meeting was requested to give the city an update on a proposed second transmission line into the area.

"They are working on those three options, and some of those may start to fall away pretty soon.

"Once they settle on a finalized option, or options, they go to work on design and engineering."

Findlater said the project is still within BC Hydro's capital plan.

A detailed wildfire risk analysis of the three options is currently being conducted.

An announcement on a possible final site could come later this fall.



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