Seeking millions for water

Photo: File Photo

The City of Kelowna is hoping to secure up to $76 million in government grants through the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund.

Through the program, the city can receive up to 83 per cent of the total cost of a project. Half would come from the federal government with 33 per cent from the province. The city would be responsible for the remaining 17 per cent.

The top priority is clean water delivery to customers of the South East Kelowna Irrigation District, agricultural water to the South Okanagan Mission Irrigation District and enhancements to the city's water utility, including future growth capacity in the south Mission.

“This is such as great opportunity to achieve real progress with potential 17-cent dollars,” said Mayor Colin Basran.

“We have not seen a funding opportunity for water and wastewater projects of this scale in many years."

The total of that grant application is $67.5 million. It will be reviewed as part of a value planning exercise early next year.

A second application worth $8.5 million would see an expansion of the sewer system into areas currently not served by sewer.

The city has been working on the applications since the program was announced during the Union of BC Municipalities Convention in September.