The federal and provincial governments are contributing $1.75 million towards the cost of a new well for Clearwater, according to District of Clearwater chief administrative office Leslie Groulx.
“It’s very exciting for us,” she said.
Ottawa is paying half the cost of the $2.1 million project while Victoria will chip in one-third, leaving the municipality to pay about $360,000.
The new well (Well #3) would be located in Reg Small Park near the existing Well #1. Well #2 is located across the road from Dutch Lake Beach.
District of Clearwater also draws water from a gravity system based on creeks located behind the ski hill.
The project would include upsizing the water main from the well to Eden Road. This would improve water flow to the reservoir above the S-curves on the road to Wells Gray Park plus enhance water flow for fire emergencies.
Also announced was $140,000 from the federal government and another $90,000 from the province to construct a septage receiving station equalization basin. District of Clearwater’s share of this project would be just under $50,000.
The septage receiving station, which is located near the sewage lagoons on the Flats, was designed to handle the usage that was experienced when septage was disposed into pits at the former Clearwater landfill, Groulx explained.
The two announcements are part of a combined $373.2 million in federal and provincial funding for 144 new projects in British Columbia through the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund (CWWF). The federal government is providing up to 50 per cent of funding—more than $186.6 million— and the province is investing nearly $123.2 million. Local governments are contributing the balance of $63.4 million.
The funding will support infrastructure projects across the province such as a new water treatment plant in West Kelowna, a drinking water system upgrade and universal metering project in Balfour, design work in Elkford for new water mains, a water main extension in Oak Bay, wastewater lagoon aeration upgrades in Tumbler Ridge, and extensive sewer work in Vancouver.