West Kelowna trying to address water quality sooner than later

The City of West Kelowna has applied for a government grant to build a new water treatment plant at the Rose Valley Reservoir.

The grant application was made to the Ministry of Community Services for the Clean Water and Wasterwater Fund.

The city has requested 83 per cent funding support for the multi-barrier water treatment plant and surrounding main work to interconnect the Lakeview Water System with the Pritchard, Sunnyside and West Kelowna Estates water systems.

This interconnection would give about 6,200 users access to water from the new plant.

The total cost of the project is estimated at $53.5 million.

Construction for the plant was slated for 2022, but public requests have urged the city to move more quickly on the project.

Lakeview Water System users were under a water quality advisory from August to November of this year because of increased turbidity.

WATCH:  West Kelowna Water Quality Advisory continues

The issue even became a focus during the run up to West Kelowna’s failed referendum on building a new city hall and civic centre in September.

WATCH:  Water quality concerns lead to questions about West Kelowna

The Clean Water and Wastewater Fund was created by the Federal and Provincial Governments in September 2016.

The fund will invest up to $376.6 million to support water infrastructure projects in B.C.

The fund offers a maximum of 83 per cent of a project’s total cost.

Funding announcements are expected next spring.