Rising costs double price of flood protection work at Vernon Water Reclamation Centre

The price tag for a flood protection project at a key city asset has doubled.

The City of Vernon had planned a flood protection project for the Vernon Water Reclamation Centre, as the facility was found to be vulnerable during high flow events, posing operation and flood risk concerns for the centre and the downstream conveyance.

The city planned a flood mitigation project that involved improving hydraulic capacity, reducing overtopping risk, and replacing and improving a bridge and outfall pipe.

The city originally budgeted $700,000 for the work, but that price soared up to $1.4 million after taking into account increased material costs, tariffs on imported components, and broader contractor market uncertainty. Staff also said the project should still go forward even with the higher costs, as not doing so could extend future risk exposure and avoid any more increases to prices.