Cariboo Regional District (CRD) Area G Director Al Richmond says the feeling he got from the Feb. 19 108 Mile Water System information meeting was there was significant support for the full upgrade of the system, including a new well (Option B).
“From what we heard at the meeting and, subsequently, the number of people who have phone or e-mailed me since, the overwhelming majority of the people are in support of looking at Option B. It seems to be what people asked me to put forward for them to vote on.”
Option B would include utilizing a new well in the north aquifer in the 108 Mile Ranch, constructing a treatment plant at the Kyllo reservoir, which would require three kilometres of water main and three-phase power to the well. This more expensive option would cost $4.7-$5.1 million, with an annual operating cost of $30,000-$40,000.
Richmond says the CRD has the funds to drill the well to “prove” it has enough water to meet future demands – without affecting the aquifer – through a long-term pumping test that the hydrogeologists recommended.
“It’s still the same aquifer – some people don’t seem to understand that – but the water, which is under the lake, once it reaches a certain point flows out of there. So, the water we would be taking out has flowed out from underneath 108 Lake and is moving north.”
While they suspect the north aquifer will be adequate, CRD environmental service manager Mitch Minchau says they won’t be able to determine its “maximum day demand” capabilities until they drill a larger casing well and pump it at a higher rate.
The CRD has already applied for a Small Communities Fund (SCF) grant because the application deadline was Feb. 18, Richmond says, adding the CRD has already committed $800,000 towards the treatment plant and he is actively looking for other sources of funding.
“Basically, we can apply for funding for the treatment plant ... the well doesn’t qualify under the SCF. So, I’m looking for some funding other than ratepayer assistance for building that pipeline for the well.”
Once the pumping test results come in, the regional district can then form the referendum question, Richmond says, adding the question will be determined by when he gets an answer on the grant application.
The timing of the referendum is somewhat problematic. To meet construction deadlines, the referendum process to borrow funds would have to be completed by October 2015, but the results of the SCF grant application may not be available until this September.
Referendum questions
• If the grant application is approved by September, the question will ask for authorization to borrow funds minus the grant funds received – lower tax rate.
• If it is not received by September, the question will be for the entire funds required – higher tax rate.
If approval comes in after September, the CRD will borrow less – lower tax rate. This will allow the project to proceed if no SCF grant is received.
• If notification that there will be no SCF funding is received by September, the question will be to authorize the full amount for the project – higher tax rate.
With the federal election this year, Richmond says this is the best time to be asking for funding.
The CRD chair says he been working on this grant and talking to the federal government representatives since he was in Ottawa in November [2014].
“I’ve been telling them they need to support this project. We have lobbied [local] MP Cathy McLeod and [Cariboo-Chilcotin] MLA Donna Barnett, so we’ve done all that work already.
“Now, I’m looking for other money to get the new well online.”
If 108 Mile Ranch residents are going to vote in September, Richmond says the CRD will be holding public meetings in August.