Garnet Valley project wraps

Photo: Colin Dacre

Traffic waiting behind construction on Garnet Valley Road in September.

The $7.1M Garnet Valley water separation project in the District of Summerland has been completed, after more than a year of work that significantly affected roads in the area.

The project began in Nov. 2016 and reached substantial completion on Nov. 28.

Domestic and irrigation water sources will now be separated for properties in Garnet Valley. Domestic water is hooked to the district's water treatment plant, while irrigation continues to come from the Garnet Valley Reservoir.

Financially, the project valued at $7,140,000 came in over budget by $103,274, or just under 1.5 per cent, according to a report from the district's director of works and utilities Kris Johnson.

The report added that the final costs are "assuming no major unforeseen issues are encountered," while acknowledging that the job was "a complex project with numerous challenges." 

Residents in Garnet Valley voiced concerns during the summer that they were fed up from dealing with potholed gravel roads, 30-minute delays to pass construction and months of boil water notices being in effect.