A development variance permit has now been submitted to formalize the construction of a new water treatment plant for residents in Scotch Creek.
The Columbia Shuswap Regional District has submitted the development permit to itself, with public submissions on the permit itself open until April 24th.
“The project involves building the water treatment plant,” said CSRD spokesperson Tracy Hughes in an interview with Radio NL. “It involves installing some additional water mains. It also involves upgrading the water intake to increase the capacity and improve the water service.”
Hughes notes the process to build the plant has been in the works for the last 5 years, as they awaited funding to be secured.
“This project has been the recipient of federal and provincial infrastructure grants that are about 2.3-million,” noted Hughes. “The CSRD has contributed 1.3 million.”
With the initial phase of the project having already been completed in the fall, Hughes says the expectation is the water treatment plant will be built and operational by October.
“It has been a long process to get that project underway,” noted Hughes.
Once operational, the water treatment plant will service 84 properties, with Hughes saying they’re building the plant with an expectation it will be able to service more properties as more people move into Scotch Creek in the future.
“There is some land in that area that’s available for potential development if there’s some developer looking,” noted Hughes. “This just provides the capacity to do that, with a safe system that’s approved by Interior Health.”