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Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen declines ownership of Lower Nipit water system

Upgrade for 68 properties estimated at $1.6 million
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The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen has voted not to take over ownership of the Lower Nipit Improvement District infrastructure. (John Arendt - Summerland Review)

The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen has declined a request from the Lower Nipit Improvement District to take over the ownership of their infrastructure.

The regional district board made the decision at its board meeting on Jan. 20.

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The improvement district had earlier asked the regional district to assume the ownership of the infrastructure. New infrastructure is needed for the improvement district to protect against a one-in--year flooding event. This includes upgrading to a 470-horsepower pump with a 200 millimetre discharge pump or installing a 300-metre culvert with a diameter of 1,800 millimetres.

The culvert has a higher upfront cost, but lower costs over the life of the infrastructure. It also has fewer potential points of failure. The estimated cost of installing the culvert is $1.6 million. For the 68 properties affected, the cost has been estimated at $1,385 a year based on a 25-year amortization period.

Subrina Monteith, director for Area I, which includes the affected area, said the transfer of ownership was proposed in order to qualify for grant funding to get the system fixed.

The board declined the request to assume ownership of the infrastructure, with Monteith the only board member voting to support the RDOS taking over.

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John Arendt

About the Author: John Arendt

John Arendt has worked as a journalist for more than 30 years. He has a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Journalism degree from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute.
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