SUMMERLAND--Summerland council has put its seal of approval on an agreement to supply domestic water to the neighbouring community of Faulder.
Council unanimously supported Monday night a revised memorandum of understanding for the project, which the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen directors approved last week.
\"This is a sensible and fair agreement. It will become a legally binding contract by Oct. 31,\" said Coun. Gordon Clark.
As a result of the agreement, the RDOS will build and pay for a new pipeline from the Summerland water treatment plant to Faulder. The pipeline will be large enough to accommodate for future development in addition to the current 80 existing Faulder residences.
\"Any development in the Faulder area requiring connection to the water system will require prior approval by the District of Summerland, so we have some control\" Mayor Janice Perrino told council.
There is no currently planned development, according to Andrew Reeder, manager of engineering services for the RDOS.
It is anticipated that $942,000 of the $1.3 million project will be obtained through federal and provincial government grants with Faulder residents paying the remainder.
Faulder residents will be required to install domestic water meters similar to those recently installed in Summerland and will be billed based on water usage.
When the project is completed, Summerland will own and operate the Faulder water system.
A capital reserve for future capital improvements and replacements in the Faulder water system will be created to which the RDOS will make an annual payment of $6,400.
\"We are pleased that we can enter into an agreement that will benefit both the residents of Faulder by providing clean and safe drinking water as well as the residents of Summerland by furthering our planned irrigation water separation project,\" Perrino said. Top of Page
