Work getting under way to improve water services for Kelowna residents

KELOWNA, BC, July 11, 2018 /CNW/ - The governments of Canada and British Columbia  recognize how important investing in modern reliable water services is to building healthy sustainable communities.

The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and Colin Basran, Mayor of Kelowna, today attended the ground-breaking of Phase 1 of the Kelowna Integrated Water Project. Member of Parliament for Kelowna‒Lake Country, Stephen Fuhr, also participated in the event.

Phase 1 is a multi-year project that involves separating agricultural and domestic systems in Southeast Kelowna and providing a sustainable water supply for agriculture in South Mission. The federal government is providing $26,450,000 and the provincial government is providing $17,457,000 for the project through the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund. The City of Kelowna is providing $19,100,000. 

This work will improve the City's core south-end water infrastructure with upgrades to its two main pumping stations, increased reservoir capacity and the installation of a larger diameter transmission main. A new separated water distribution system will also be created to provide South East Kelowna Irrigation District residents with year-round clean water and improve storage capacity. 

Once complete, the project will provide cleaner drinking water to almost 2,000 households in Southeast Kelowna and bring the City into early compliance with Interior Heath's 2025 clean drinking water mandate.

Quotes

"I am very pleased to celebrate the start of this important water system project in Kelowna, a major initiative to improve water services and water quality for Kelowna residents. The Government of Canada recognizes that investing in water infrastructure not only helps protect public health, but also strengthens the foundation for economic prosperity and the growth of the middle class."

The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

"Our government is committed to improve the services British Columbians rely on. We are working in partnership to make sure Kelowna has sustainable water services, and local residents enjoy safe and reliable access to drinking water. This vital project will ensure South Mission and South East Kelowna residents benefit from a clean, healthy and efficient water source for years to come."

The Honourable Selina Robinson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing

"The beginning of this project marks a huge step forward in bringing high-standard water services to all Kelowna residents. The Water Integration Project will improve the quality of water for thousands in South Mission and South East Kelowna and create a more efficient sustainable water system that can meet the needs of B.C.'s fastest growing community well into the future."

Stephen Fuhr, Member of Parliament for Kelowna‒Lake Country

"It's not every day that we receive $44 million from our government partners. I want to thank the federal and provincial governments for acknowledging this essential need in Kelowna and for committing to help ensure our citizens have safe clean drinking water for a rapidly growing population and a resilient and redundant water supply system to meet all our water needs in the face of climate change."

Colin Basran, Mayor of the City of Kelowna

Quick facts

• Through the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan, the Government of Canada will invest more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada's rural and northern communities.
• $26.9 billion of this funding will support green infrastructure projects, including $5 billion that will be available for investment through the Canada Infrastructure Bank.

Associated links

Investing in Canada: Canada's Long-Term Infrastructure Plan:
http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/icp-publication-pic-eng.html

Federal infrastructure investments in British Columbia: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map-carte/bc-eng.html

City of Kelowna Phase 1 Integrated Water Project: kelowna.ca/water

Clean Water and Wastewater Fund in British Columbia: www.gov.bc.ca/cleanwaterwastewaterfund

Twitter: @INFC_eng 
Web: Infrastructure Canada

SOURCE Infrastructure Canada