West Kelowna’s new city hall vs. water infrastructure improvements

There’s been a lot of talk surrounding West Kelowna spending money on a new city hall instead of spending money on water infrastructure.

Concerned people were commenting on KelownaNow’s article about the water quality advisory that was put into effect in West Kelowna. Comments included “So focused on their stupid town hall that they forgot that the city needs critical infrastructure upgrades such as power and water.”

And, “Yes! They want our input as to whether or not they should spend money on a new city hall yet we have to boil water to brush our teeth, where's the logic?”

The City of West Kelowna is holding a referendum next month. The city will be asking if residents would approve borrowing up to $7.7 million to help build a new city hall.

A lot of people have been concerned about the proposed location and during the first vote too many people voted no for it to go ahead. A total of 4,144 forms were sent in, with 3,871 saying no to the borrowing.

Ian Graham, the leader of the West Kelowna No Side, doesn't agree with the proposed location of the new hall.

"We don't believe the need to buy location. We believe they have other locations that they already own and should be using. So, the cost of this location, across from the ALR, on Elliot Road is $655,000 just for the land. Then the city has to extend a road and widen another road."

According to a press release sent out by the City of West Kelowna, water infrastructure improvements have been planned and budgeted for.

Since Aug. 4, there has been a water quality advisory in place for the Lakeview Water System in West Kelowna. Approximately 11,000 people in West Kelowna have been told to be cautious when it comes to the water. The advisory will continue until further notice for customers on the Lakeview System. It affects 4,000 connections in Lakeview Higher, Rose Valley, Boucherie Centre, Shannon Wood, Tallus Ridge and Shannon Lake.

“Council is hearing from residents who are understandably concerned with the quality of their water, although it is our first advisory and the turbidity levels are actually still relatively low. They are asking that water improvements come before our new City Hall,” said Mayor Doug Findlater.

“But what people should know is that we have already planned for the improvements to this system, with a new treatment plant at the Rose Valley Reservoir slated for construction 2022 or earlier, with planning starting next year. This infrastructure improvement is already in our Capital Plan, as are all the other water system improvements listed in the Water Master Plan, which was adopted in 2013 after extensive public consultation.”

The funding for water improvements does not come from the same sources as the new city hall would. Kirsten Jones, Communications Supervisor with the City of West Kelowna said the funding primarily comes from users of the system.

“Westbank Water System users, for instance, have been paying much higher water rates for many years to support the construction of the Powers Creek Water Treatment Plant. Built in 2007 at a cost of $18.1 million, the plant employs state-of-the-art, multi-layered treatment to produce water with a turbidity of less than .3 NTU throughout the year.”

Graham told KelownaNow that he believes the city is facing a water crisis.

"I think water is damn important, yes. I think we could make due with what we have just now."

For more information on the water master plan and the referendum, click here.