Project Name:
Upper Fintry, Shalal Road, Valley of the Sun Water System

File Number: 5600-20-15

Start Date: Under Design

Substantial Completion Date: Fall 2011

Number of Units:   341 residential parcels

Project Cost: (estimated):   $5,936,000 

Unit Cost:  Not to exceed $17,500 per residential unit

Taxation/Unit/Year: Depends on interest rate at time of borrowing. Based on 30 year amortization:

• $1,200 per unit per year (estimated)

Costs to Connect:  (based on today's rates and subject to change)

• Application Fee: $200.00
• Building Permit Fee: $150.00 ($50.00 is refunded once connection is approved)
• Water Meter:  $440.00
• Plus, all on-site costs to connect the existing residence to the service connection at the property line are the responsibility of the owner.

Project Site Plan:
Project Boundary 

Description:

• To provide both domestic water service with fire flows to 341 residential parcels in the service area encompassing the subdivisions of Upper Fintry, Shalal Road and Valley of the Sun.

Current Status:

• January 23rd, 2012 - Project Status Update
  The majority of the project works have been completed.  Start-up, testing and commissioning of the water system is underway.  These efforts are expected to take approximately 4 to 6 weeks to complete.  This completion schedule could be compromised by cold weather or if problems are identified, during start-up, that need to be corrected. 

  It's likely that the  final costs of the project will not be established for another few of months.  Once the final costs are determined, property owners will be notified of the ‘per parcel’ cost (not to exceed $17,500 per parcel) and also notified regarding the deadline date for a lump sum payment.  Determination of the final project costs will not delay a property owner’s ability to connect to the new water system, as long as the connection, inspection and water meter fees have been paid.  However, service connections cannot be completed until property owners are notified by the RDCO that the system is ready for use.

  We thank everyone for their patience and we look forward to delivering water to our new customers within the next couple of months.
   

• November 24th - Project Update Letter

• October 3rd - 5th - access closed to Fintry Community Park boat launch as part of current phase of water main installation.

• September 23rd - Project Update Letter

• Friday, September 16th - crews are installing the final section of mains from the Morden Road pumphouse to Westside Road.  Construction Notice

• Friday, August 5th - the Firwood Road intersection with Westside Road will be temporarily closed while construction crews tie into the works at Westside Road.  A temporary detour route has been established and signed.  Please follow signs and instructions from crews and flag people.

• July 11th - Letter sent to property owners updating construction.

• June 27th - Construction and paving is complete along Westside Road.  For approximately, four week, crews will be installing works in the Valley of the Sun subdivision.  Please watch for signage and obey flag people on roadways.

• May 11th - Construction Underway News Release

• May 6th - Construction Schedule (subject to change - will be updated as needed)

• April 28th - Project Construction Update Letter for Property Owners

• April 8th Update- the Regional Board has approved the construction contract with Peters Brothers Construction Ltd (View Board Report) for approximately 12-kilometers of watermains and two pressure reducing stations.  Pending contract signing and final approval from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, watermain construction work will begin within the next few weeks.  Residents are asked to be aware that during the construction phase, there will be some traffic disruptions and we request for the safety of workers and residents that patience and extreme caution be used when entering the active work zones.  Where alternate traffic routes exist, please use these alternate routes whenever possible during construction.

  The Morden Control Building (the well site in Lower Fintry) is beginning to take shape with pouring of the building floor.  We are expecting that the ‘mid-level booster station’ will be tendered shortly, with an anticipated tender close in mid-May.  The booster station should be under construction by late May or early June.

  The ‘Firwood Road Storage Reservoir’ will be the last of the major contracts and should be into construction by early summer.

  Minor electrical, instrumentation and communications work will be the final component of the project.  These are the works that will be required to ensure that all of the various components of the infrastructure can communicate with each of the other components.  These communications works will also give the Regional District the ability to remotely monitor the operation of the new water system.  These final works will commence in late summer or early fall.

  Subject to some important approvals being achieved, the project is progressing on schedule.
   

• March Update - Environmental Services Staff and representatives from CTQ Consulting Engineers were on hand at a well attended Open House held at the Killiney Beach Community Hall on March 12^th, 2011.  The tendered design drawings were available for viewing at the meeting, as were answers to  Frequently Asked Questions. The invitation to tender for the Watermains and Pressure Reducing Stations closes on March 24^th, 2011.  The Interior Health Authority issued the Waterworks Construction Permit on  March 7^th, 2011 and residents can expect construction to commence in their community this spring, following Regional Board approval of the contract documents.  View Open House Brochure, Display Panel 1, Display Panel 2 and February Open House Invitation Letter to Property Owners and Residents
   

• February Update - The Regional Board awarded the contract for construction of the new Control building, pumps and wells to Maddocks Construction Limited for a price of $442,164.45 excluding HST.  View Report to the Board
   

• January 2011 Update - Detailed design work is continuing on the project.   In January, residents can expect to see construction activity at the Morden Road Well Site.  The next phase of works at Morden Road will be in regard to placing pumps into the wells and capping off the top of the wells to allow for future connection to the new water system.  We anticipate that construction of the Morden Road pumphouse building will commence in late February or early March.  Construction of the remainder of the water system works is expected to commence in late March or early April.  Construction efforts, which will be divided up into several different construction contracts, will continue throughout the summer and fall of 2011.
   

• October 2010 Update -

  • Detailed engineering design work is progressing on the water system with attention being given to the lower pumphouse design, on Morden Road.  This component of the project has received a $400,000 grant from the Province to assist with the design and construction of the new groundwater wells, as well as the pumphouse, at the Morden Road site.
  • The geotechnical investigative work within the existing roadways has been completed.  The geotechnical report is currently being finalized.  This report will be utilized by the design consultant to determine design constraints (avoidance of solid rock excavation, for example).  The site topographic survey is approximately 80% complete.  The remainder of the survey will be completed once final alignments have been determined.
  • It is expected that the detailed design will continue through the winter months with tender and construction to commence in the spring of 2011.  Construction completion is anticipated for late 2011.
• July 16th letter from CTQ Consultants to affected property owners.
• July 8, 2010 - the Regional Board awarded an engineering services consulting management contract to CTQ Consultants Limited for project administration and administration of the design, tendering and construction of the new water system.  Link to Report
• Water Source Identification and Preliminary Water System Design - May 2010 (28 pg 1.7MB)
• Ground Water Development Program Completion Report - May 2010 (85 pg. 3MB)
• Project Update Letter - May 2010
• April 2010 - Request for Statement of Qualifications for Engineering Services tender process underway.
• April 14th Information Meeting Display Panel
• March 2010 - notification of a Public Information Meeting for Wednesday, April 14th at Killiney Beach Community Hall.  Updated information will be available for residents on this project and several other key topics.  View More Details.
• Design underway
• Part A - Engineering Services contract awarded to True Consulting Group Inc. to identify the preferred water source(s) and prepare the preliminary project design..

Consultant: 

• Engineering Services - Construction Phase
  CTQ Consultants Ltd., Garry Threlfall, CTech, Phone (250) 979-1221  Fax (250) 979-1232  Mobile (250) 212-3937 Email:  gthrelfall@ctqconsultants.ca
• Engineering Services - Design Phase
  True Consulting Group Inc.

Contractor:  Peters Brothers Construction Limited, Pat Adkin, Phone: (250) 765-9601  Fax: (250) 765-9603  Email: pat@bcunderground.net

RDCO Contact:   Delphine Maja, Sr. Engineering Technologist, Phone: (250) 469-6262   Fax: (250) 762-7011 Email: delphine.maja@cord.bc.ca

Background: 

North Westside Water Service Feasibility Study

September 2009:  The Regional District issued a Request for Proposals for Engineering Services specifically for water source identification and preliminary design of the water system for the three areas of the North Westside. The Regional Board is expected to consider a contract award for this portion of the project this fall.  On completion of this first phase, a second Request for Proposals is expected for the final design, tender and construction management components of the water system project.

May 2009: The Regional Board adopted four bylaws relating to establishing a service area, authorizing a loan and temporary borrowing and parcel tax commutation for the water system that will provide service to the Upper Fintry, Shalal Road and Valley of the Sun areas.

March 2009: An information letter has been sent to affected property owners regarding the status of the project.

At its regular meeting March 23rd, the Regional Board heard that a successful petition was completed within the proposed service area for the new water distribution system.  The petition received 56% support of the 341 property owners that represent 63% of the total assessment in the Upper Fintry, Shalal Road and Valley of the Sun areas.  With the petition result, the Board gave three readings to bylaws that would establish a new domestic water system service for properties within those areas of the Central Okanagan West Electoral Area.  The Board also approved retaining a consulting engineer to design, tender, project manage and provide as-constructed record drawings.  Engineering staff will apply to the Building Canada Fund – Communities Component for a grant to help offset the estimated $400,000 cost of designing the water system.  Also, the Board approved  retaining a consulting engineer to proceed with well site exploration and development.  Link to Report for Regional Board meeting.  Costs will be recovered through a proposed parcel tax for the proposed service area while individual property owners will be responsible for the costs to connect their homes to the line and for ongoing maintenance and use fees.

On March 19th, a meeting was held for property owners in the proposed service area at the Killiney Beach Community Hall.  They viewed presentation panels outlining additional information regarding the project.  Attendees also learned the Regional District application for a Towns for Tomorrow grant of $400,000 for the project from the BC Government was successful which reduces the estimated cost per parcel to $16,235.

February 2009:  Petitions mailed to property owners within the proposed water service area.  If the project proceeds, we estimate the costs to design and construct the water system at $17,500 per parcel (Estimated Capital Cost Breakdown) and property owners will be given the option of paying for it through their Property Tax requisition amortized over 30 years.  Continued operation and maintenance costs for any water system would be recovered via semi-annual utility bills.  Metered rates would apply only to connected parcels whereas maintenance costs will be a flat fee applicable to all parcels.  Link to Cover Letter  Link to Petition

A Public Meeting was held on Thursday, March 19th at 7:00 pm in Killiney Beach Community Hall to present the results of the petition.

January 2009:  The Regional Board approved submission of an application to the Provincial ' Towns for Tomorrow' program for possible funding to help offset the cost of design and construction of a proposed water system for Upper Fintry and Valley of the Sun, once funding and final community support has been confirmed.  Link to Board Report - January 15, 2009

December 2008: A public information meeting was held on Thursday, December 4th at Killiney Beach for property owners in the Fintry Delta, Upper Fintry and Valley of the Sun subdivision to update them on the status of this project.  A presentation was also provided.  Letters were sent to property owners advising them of the meeting and that information and updates for the project could be found on this webpage. Link to November Letter

The Governance and Services Committee of the Regional Board received a report on this project at its meeting November 13th.  (Link to Report).  As well, the report included a technical memorandum from Summit Environmental Consultants Limited regarding potential groundwater well sites.  Link to June Memorandum.

April 2008 report from the consultant on Preliminary Groundwater Feasibility Assessment.

In January 2008, the consultant completed a study into the La Casa Water Distribution System and options/costs for possible servicing of the Upper Fintry/Valley of the Sun areas.  (Link to January 2008 Study)  The Regional District has requested the consultant proceed with the exploration and feasibility of groundwater source options for any possible future service in the two areas.

Approximately 130 people attended a public meeting (photos) at the Killiney Beach Community Hall on Monday, November 5th, 2007 as staff from the Regional District Engineering Services Department and Agua Consulting Inc. gave a presentation on the findings of the study  into the feasibility of water services for the Upper Fintry and Valley of the Sun areas.  They also addressed any questions or concerns from those in attendance.  As a show of hands from those assembled indicated exceptional community support it's anticipated that with approval from the Regional Board and funding,  the Regional District will proceed with exploring servicing options and any potential availability of a suitable groundwater source/s.  Before any final decision is made whether to proceed with the project, a formal petition of property owners would have to be successful.  Link to letter and map sent to area property owners advising of the public meeting.

In September 2007, a Water Study was completed by Agua Consulting Inc.  The Regional District sent a letter to area residents informing them that the study has been completed and was available for viewing. 

In the spring of 2007, responding to several requests, the Regional District of Central Okanagan began a process to investigate the feasibility of establishing a water service for residents of Upper Fintry and Valley of the Sun.  The Fintry Delta area has been included in the study area because of its proximity to the neighbouring areas.  A consultant was contracted for the study to provide recommendations for the best approach to service existing lots with water. 

• Study Area Map

• Letter to Residents (May 2007)

• March 26 Report to Regional Board

For more information or comment, please contact the Regional District Development and Environmental Services Department at 250-469-6241 or by email at engineer@cord.bc.ca