Province puts 12 million toward second phase
The BC government is putting $12 million into the City of Kelowna's water plan.
That money will get put toward phase two, after a previous provincial contribution was made for phase one.
Senior Engineer Ron Westlake says the main part of phase two is a 4.4 km transmission main along KLO Road, between Gordon and Southeast Kelowna.
"The main piece is the KLO transmission, which will carry water from Gordon Drive down KLO, up to Southeast Kelowna, to extend water up to SEKID (South East Kelowna Irrigation District), and eventually to provide water to Rutland and the Black Mountain area," he said.
He says that transmission main will access multiple intake sources.
"Eventually when we have to go to higher levels of treatment, we want to try and consolidate our sources. So we're trying to phase out some, but also strengthen the ones that are going to be the long-term intakes. So these transmission mains will allow us to do that."
Other elements of phase two include detailed planning for the next projects to come in phase three, as well as how that work can mitigate flooding.
Meanwhile phase one is still being completed, with the $86 million pricetag also including provincial and federal funding.
It's goal is to build a new drinking water distribution system, that will integrate the city's utility with SEKID.
Westlake says Emil Anderson will complete both phases concurrently.
"We have three years to complete that project, so we've got until 2021. It not comes down to more of the schedule of the contractor doing (phase one)," he said.
"(Emil Anderson) will have to schedule the work in, but it's got more time allotted to it. The grant for the SEKID project expires in 2020, the KLO project goes till 2021."
The city says it's also working with the province to consult with First Nations groups, and other key stakeholders.
