RDOS approves bringing Kaleden, Skaha Estates areas into OK Falls wastewater treatment system

Preliminary work will now proceed on the process to bring the Skaha Estates and Kaleden areas into the Okanagan Falls wastewater treatment system.

The move was approved Thursday by the board of the Regional District of OkanaganSimilkameen.

However, paying for the predesign of the sewer system, an estimated price tag of $337,500, puts the RDOS at risk of holding the bag for the design costs and returning the Building Canada Fund grant should the project not go ahead or not be approved by ratepayers.

“We’ll have to do it, but I hope it fits within the larger justification,” said Tom Siddon, who represents those communities as the Area D RDOS director.

“It looks like the management committee for the infrastructure funding is willing to pay twothirds, but we aren’t getting that in writing. I support what’s being proposed, but I’m apprehensive about these risks.”

If the RDOS is required to cover the full costs, taxation would have to be increased in 2019 in Area D to recover the estimated shortfall of $225,000.

According to a report prepared by RDOS staff, the local government has been awarded a federal grant for the project of $6.6 million, contingent upon it kicking in one-third of the cost. It remains unclear what will happen to the grant money if ratepayers don’t agree to contribute.

Adding Skaha Estates and Kaleden into the Okanagan Falls system has been discussed since the late 1980s, when the first liquid waste management plan was completed.

The RDOS board made the sewer system for the area a top priority in 2014.