Residents of the Willowbrook area like the idea of owning their own water utility and having it run by the Regional District.

The RDOS agreed to assume control of the water utility when the present owner decided to give it up.

A period was set aside for citizens to oppose it – but that time has passed.

167 owners in the utility service area. Not one objected and no referendum is needed.

The maximum amount of levy is $35000 per year. The Regional Board will authorize it all next Thursday.

Previously on ODN

Regional District Okanagan Similkameen directors will likely approve the acquisition of a water utility after the present owner decided to relinquish control to the water customers.

In 1972 the Willowbrook Water Utility was established by Terry and Jo Johnson. 80 lots are currently served with a 12 inch well, 28 thousand gallon storage unit and water mains installed in a basic system that will need to be upgraded in the next decade.

Water customers will utilize the AAP – Alternative Approval Process to grant permission for the acquisition of the existing service.

A consultant hired by the RDOS states that a capital charge of $236 to $714 per year will need to be added to current rates to finance a 2nd well, a 2nd reservoir, a back up generator, a SCADA monitor system and water metering of some kind. In the first year $142,500 needs to be spent, more in year 4-7 and 10 amounting to a total over a million dollars.