Residents in the Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) can now submit an expression of interest to have their water and wastewater systems transitioned to RDCK ownership and operation.
In July, the RDCK’s Board of Directors approved the RDCK Water and Wastewater Acquisition Plan, rescinding its long-standing moratorium on water and wastewater system acquisitions, which had been in place since 2011.
The Board also adopted the 2024 Water and Wastewater Acquisition Policy as a key document to guide the process.
According to a media release from the RDCK, the objective of both the acquisition plan and policy is to offer long-term solutions to small water systems in the region.
Rural Challenges and Potential Solutions
The RDCK says many rural water systems experience difficulties with sustainable and compliant operations, typically due to the following reasons:
- Inadequate cost recovery
- Aging infrastructure
- Depleted financial reserves
- Inadequate system maintenance
- Loss of interest by volunteers in continued operations
- Inaccessibility of grant funding opportunities
- Inadequate treatment
- Volunteer retirement
Residents who use or own these small water and wastewater systems and experience these challenges may be interested in transferring ownership and operation of their system to the RDCK, which can offer long-term solutions to many of these issues.
These potential long-term solutions include, but are not limited to: experience with lifecycle asset management planning, access to sustainable long-term funding, access to grants, experience with project management and procurement for capital projects, reliable operations and maintenance, staff with expertise in water science and engineering, and good water quality for users.
Additionally, the RDCK has experience in developing sustainable asset management plans, financial plans, and rate structures to support systems, and has completed many successful capital infrastructure projects.
The Acquisition Process
Regional District services, including water and wastewater, are required to be fully financially independent in accordance with the Local Government Act.
Costs incurred by water or wastewater services must be fully paid by benefiting users, with the exception of grant money when available.
Any water or wastewater utility located in the RDCK is eligible to apply to be considered for a service acquisition; however, the RDCK will not actively seek out systems to acquire, as it is an applicant-initiated process.
Acquisitions will be based on a comprehensive business case for service establishment, considering community benefits, regional impact, and sustainable growth, with a detailed assessment of the following:
- Potential benefit of the acquisition to water users and the community
- Potential costs to users
- Evaluation and prioritization of acquisitions
- Potential impact on the RDCK and its staff
- Manageable growth in the region
- Sustainability of water and wastewater systems
Submitting an Application
The RDCK anticipates acquiring only one or two systems per year, depending on system needs, the impact on RDCK resources, and the timing of any required staffing and equipment increases.
Systems will be prioritized based on evaluation ranking. The acquisition process itself is expected to take 1.5 to 2.5 years.
Expressions of interest must be submitted by persons authorized to represent their service.
For more information on how to start the process, click here.
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