Water could be flowing from the Gibsons aquifer to homes and businesses in Upper Gibsons in about a month’s time, according to the Sunshine Coast Regional District’s (SCRD) infrastructure manager.
Remko Rosenboom revealed the long-anticipated timeline for when the Town of Gibsons will start supplying Zone 3 properties with aquifer water during the SCRD’s June 18 infrastructure committee metting. “Pending the delivery of some critical parts,” the Town of Gibsons will start providing water to properties in Zone 3 “somewhere within the next four weeks,” he said.
The SCRD has been supplying the Town with water through a bulk water agreement and this change will reduce the Town’s reliance on the SCRD’s water system by more than 95 per cent. The municipality will remain connected to the SCRD’s regional water system and will rely on that water for peak water use, emergency storage and for fires.
The Town has invested in new infrastructure to allow water to be pumped into Zone 3 and has been installing watermains along Reed Road over the past month.
The Town held an Alternative Approval Process last year to borrow up to $3.3 million to complete the extension. Weaning off SCRD water is expected to save the Town up to $200,000 a year – enough to offset loan payments, according to Gibsons staff.
The project will also mean more water for the remaining users of the SCRD’s regional water system.
Elphinstone director Donna McMahon, the committee’s chair, called it “exciting news.”
“Thank you to our partners, the Town of Gibsons, for moving this forward. This could be a real saviour this summer since we don’t know what our water situation could be.”
More information about what this will mean for the regional water system and the cost implications for the SCRD will be coming to the July infrastructure services committee meeting.
Rosenboom said a ribbon cutting ceremony is expected, either virtually or in person.
– With files from Sean Eckford
