More Sewer Service For Vernon

More than 770 properties in Okanagan Landing will have a chance to connect to the Vernon’s sewer system.

Council has given the go ahead local service project over a ten year time frame, most of them in nine subdivisions east of Okanagan Lake.

Councillor Juliette Cunningham says each owner would have to pay the extension and connection fees.

“The fees we’re talking about, the $21,000 or $23,000 per residence, that’s just to get the system from the main to your property line.

The owner would also have to pay the costs to connect the line to their home.

Cunningham says while that’s lot of money, it’s also expensive if your septic fails.

“It’s up to the property owner to decide if they want to connect or not,” says Mayor Akbal Mund.

“They can pay it over time, and if you’re over 55, you can defer it and add it to your taxes for an extended period of time, until you sell your property.”

Owners can also pay the fees over 15 to 20 years.

Councillor Brian Quiring says it’s not mandatory to hook-up.

“But when your septic system fails you’ll be thankful you have the ability to hook-up, because it can be very expensive to replace a septic system.”

The City received a 3 million dollar federal/provincial grant to reduce the costs of the 18 million dollar project.