The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) has put out the call for companies interested in taking on phase 2 of its universal water metering project, which covers electoral areas A, B, D, E and F.
The $5.5-million project to install roughly 4,550 residential meters – and upgrade or replace about 450 residential and commercial meters that are already in place – was approved in the SCRD’s 2016 budget. Meters have already been installed for customers of the South Pender Harbour Water Service Area. Metering for Sechelt will be phase 3.
One of the requirements the successful company will have to meet is drafting “educational pamphlets” to go out to all homes where meters are getting installed. The pamphlets will include water conservation tips and contain information on leak detection and keeping the meter clean and accessible. They’ll also have to address “radio frequency health concerns.”
The style of water meter the SCRD favours is read using similar technology as the BC Hydro smart meters, which are still controversial because of concerns in some quarters over possible health impacts from exposure to electromagnetic waves.
Bryan Shoji, SCRD’s manager of infrastructure, said the regional district will take the same approach as it did in South Pender Harbour when it comes to property owners who do not want smart water meters. They will be able to opt for a manual-read meter, and pay an extra fee to cover the cost of having it read (about $25 per reading).
Shoji said no customers on the South Pender system requested a so-called “dumb meter.”
The bids are being opened May 19, and the winning company and details of the contract should be released shortly afterwards.
As for when the installations will actually start – bidding companies are being given the option of which area to tackle first and must finish in one area before moving to another. The tender documents say all the installations must be finished by Dec. 31.
Meanwhile, construction for the SCRD’s other major water-related project for 2016 will likely begin around late June.
Shoji said the SCRD is still waiting for the necessary approvals from the ministries of Environment and Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations (FLNRO) before going out to tender on deepening the Chapman Lake outlet channel, which will allow the SCRD to draw more water in extreme drought conditions.
Preliminary engineering work is already underway, but the Environment Ministry has to approve a parks use permit, and FLNRO needs to sign off on amendments to the water licence before construction can go ahead.
The SCRD will also have to get voter approval for the $4.23-million loan needed to cover the cost. That’s expected to happen through an Alternative Approval Process.
Shoji said the SCRD remains on track to get the work done in time for any summer dry spell. He noted that the water supply situation is better than it was at this time last year.
People will have a chance to talk to SCRD officials about the water projects and other issues at a series of community dialogues being planned for May.
