More Funding Needed To Close Down Water Districts

Apr 8, 2019 | 6:00 AM

More Spallumcheen residents will be getting their water from the township, rather than a water district, in the future.

There are currently 14 independent water districts in the community, run by volunteers, but four of them have asked to be dissolved.

“As time goes on, people don’t want to volunteer to run them anymore. They would like us to take them over and the province is in favour of that, “says Spall councillor and acting mayor Todd York.

York tells Beach Radio News, council is seeking more provincial funding to continue the process, which he says is costly as each district has to be be reviewed by engineers.

“We have to make sure they’re up to standard. We have to do a quality engineering study of them to find out what state they’re in,” says York.

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York says the province sees the 14 water districts as being “a bit of an anomaly” and would love the township to take them over, which he says is gradually happening.

A report prepared by Urban Systems says the Silver Star, Landsdowne, Stardel and Stepney water districts have requested dissolution.

The report says the timelines for completion and the costs to the township have exceeded the estimates from 2014, costs largely beyond the township’s control due to more engagement with the districts and delays.

The province has so far provided about $100,000 in planning grants and engagement funding, and a further $15,000 from senior governments is recommended.

by Corey Fischer