Users of the Noble Creek Irrigation System are coming together today to decide on a number of issues, including who will be buying in to the city’s temporary water solution for next year.

Under the deal council approved on Tuesday, the city will cover 75-per cent of the cost of a temporary pumping system, while Noble Creek users would need to cover the rest.

Dieter Dudy, former City Councillor and owner of Thistle Farms, says it’s unclear how many of the 41 users are going to buy in.

“I think that you’re going to find that its mixed,” Dudy said. “The people that are really seriously impacted by this are the hay farmers and people like myself who look at it and say, ‘okay, we’re going to see at minimum a doubling of our costs, but at least the assurance is there that we’re going to have water.'”

“For those who don’t need the water as much, they’re probably not going to buy in and that could actually our share of it because the pot is going to still be there and less people are going to be putting into it.”

A report by Urban Systems said the cost of the setting up and using the temporary pumping system for next year could be between $500,000 and $700,000, depending on the city’s procurement process.

This year, NCIS customer rates totalled $62,677 – an average of $1,528 per customer. Their share of the temporary pumping system could cost anywhere between $125,000 and $175,000, while Kamloops taxpayers could be looking a 2 to 3 per cent increase in water rates to cover their estimated $375,000 to $525,000 share of the costs.

“If it comes back that the majority of people are going to come back and say, ‘no, we cannot handle that increase, then they’re going to go back to council and say, well, here’s what happening. what do you want us to to do?'” Dudy said.

Meanwhile, the first meeting of the Noble Creek Users Society is set to take place today, with farm owners decidind whether to take control of the water rights from the city after next year.

Addressing council on Tuesday, Adam Woodward with Woodward Cidery says the users have also formed their own society to create long-term solutions to their water needs.

“We just need to be really smart in how we do it. I think it is doable with the payouts that have been provided there,” Adam Woodward with Woodward Cidery, told council

“Like I say, we just need a little bit more help to get across the finish line.”