Access to clean water

Some Southeast Kelowna residents now have access to clean drinking water, but thousands more will have to wait until 2020.

About 10 families were connect to the city water system as part of the municipality’s takeover of the Southeast Kelowna Irrigation District.

“We can finally drink the water straight from the tap. We waited a long time and now the water is perfect, ready to go,” area resident John Del Medico said in a cityissued news release.

The first phase of the so-called Kelowna Integrated Water Project will see about 2,000 households in Southeast Kelowna connected to the municipal system.

Originally estimated to cost about $60 million, the project’s tab has increased to $86 million.

The first homes were connected because they are located close to the city system.

“It’s a great feeling to see residents have access to clean water,” project manager Patrick Aylard said in the release. “Although we could connect these first few homes because they were close to existing city utilities, connecting other houses to the new system will take a bit longer.”

The rest of the homes in the service area of the former irrigation district will be connected to the city system in 2020.

New water mains have been installed and work is now underway to build a new water reservoir and pump station at 4075 Jean Rd.