Spallumcheen is set to receive the federal and provincial government’s portions of nearly $37 million for a new wastewater system, according to a Tuesday announcement.
Local, provincial and federal levels of government are contributing funds for the North Okanagan Wastewater Recovery Project, which will include a new treatment facility, sludge treatment system and about 12 kilometres of main pump stations. The project will run along the Swan Lake Corridor.
“We’re thrilled to see the project all come together. Our Partnership Committee has been working at this for four years, since we signed our first Memorandum of Understanding in 2015,” said Bob Fleming, board member of the Regional District of North Okanagan. “It shows how much we can achieve working together toward a common vision to protect water quality, support agriculture and enhance economic opportunities.”
The feds have contributed nearly $13.3 million through a grant announced Tuesday while the B.C. government has chipped in just over $11 million.
The rest of the project is being funded by an Okanagan Basin Water Board Sewerage Facilities assistance grant of $5.9 million, $1.5 million from Spallumcheen reserves and $5.2 million from Area B and C property owners.
The project has been in the works since 2015, when the RDNO, Township of Spallumcheen and Okanagan Indian Band partnered to address the concerns around the environmental degradation of Swan Lake, and to help meet demands for growth in the area.
It’s the last area of the Okanagan water basin without a wastewater facility, and the project will bring sewer service to residents in the area. A June 2018 survey found that 76 per cent of residents support the project, primarily for environmental and economic reasons.
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The financial support comes via the federal government’s Investing in Canada infrastructure plan and the New Building Canada Fund - the latter a $14-billion dollar commitment over 10 years made in 2014.
Spallumcheen is one of 15 communities in the province getting support for drinking water and wastewater projects. In total, the federal government is investing more than $100 million in these projects through the Green Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Plan. The B.C. government is contributing almost $80 million and municipalities more than $60 million.
Information and updates on the project can be found on its dedicated website.
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