It鈥檚 official. The South East 91大黄鸭 Irrigation District has been given the provincial go-ahead to wrap up its operations so it can join the City of 91大黄鸭 water utility.

The actual integration of the two water utilities is not scheduled until 2021, but on Monday, the provincial government signed an Order in Council dissolving SEKID鈥檚 letters patent, a move that allows transfer of ownership of the water system to the city.

SEKID has provided water in southeast 91大黄鸭 since 1920 to both domestic and agricultural customers.

With the move, 91大黄鸭 is publicly recognizing the SEKID board for working closely with it to successfully secure what it calls the 鈥渦nprecedented鈥� $43.9-million government grant from the provincial and federal governments awarded last year to help pay for improvement to the SEKID system.

Early dissolution of the irrigation district was necessary to secure additional funds required to build the $85-million first phase of the 91大黄鸭 Integrated Water Project.

The project will see a new clean drinking water system built in southeast 91大黄鸭 and the existing distribution system used for irrigation and fire protection. Construction of the three-year project is expected to get underway in July.

SEKID staff will move to the city water utility as part of the change and the actual integration of daily operations with the city water utility will happen slowly over the next few years.

Daily operations and customer service for the current SEKID 91大黄鸭 water customers will continue as usual from the irrigation district鈥檚 Gulley Road office.

Meanwhile, the city is continuing to push for the three other water purveyors in 91大黄鸭鈥擱utland Water Works, the Glenmore-Ellison Improvement District and the Black Mountain Irrigation District鈥攖o join its water utility and become part of the city鈥檚 integrated water system.

Recently, 91大黄鸭 Mayor Colin Basran said he expects the three hold-outs will eventually join the city鈥檚 utility.

Basran said he based that expectation on the fact the province requires any infrastructure grant for an irrigation district in B.C. to be applied for through the district鈥檚 local municipality. 91大黄鸭 has made it clear, it will not do that for a water purveyor unless it joins the city鈥檚 water system.

To report a typo, email:
newstips@kelownacapnews.com.

newstips@kelownacapnews.com
Like us on and follow us on .