by Wolf Depner Special to the Review

Summerland council heard Tuesday that the district faces extra costs in operating the new water treatment plant.

Don Darling, director engineering and public works, told council’s committee-of-the-whole, that the cost of removing sludge from the settling ponds of the plant could add up if the district continues with its current method of hauling away the sludge by truck.

While a final number will not be available until a report due in two weeks, Darling is already anticipating a cost escalation.

“It will be a significant number,” he said as council received a verbal staff update on the plant.

Darling refused to speculate about a figure during following up questions from the media, saying it would be inappropriate to do so before the district receives the report.

Depending on demand, up to 30 truck loads are needed weekly to dispose of the sludge accumulating in the mal-functioning settling ponds. The 19-million-dollar facility assumed operations this February, but soon encountered a host of technical problems that have reduced its capacity. During the peak irrigation season, demand for water from residential and agricultural users can reach up 140 million litres a day. While such levels have not been reached since the drought of 2003 and introduction of water meters, the plant currently reaches only about 50 per cent of its design capacity of 75 mega-litres per day as staff continue to deal with the technical issues and receive training.

Interior Health had to issue a boil water advisory this spring for several weeks and a water quality advisory has remained in effect since July.

The performance of the plant has angered residents and prompted concerns about the impact the water advisories could end up having on the tourism industry during the summer months when demand it at its highest. The broader issue of water quality and supply has already shaped up to be a factor in municipal politics after Mayor David Gregory announced that he would not run for a second term over frustrations to secure a second source of water for the community. A series of reservoir lakes to the west of Summerland currently supply the community with water and Gregory had campaigned on securing permission from the province to use the community’s lake licenses set to expire Jan. 31, 2010. But the provincial government recently denied a request from the district to use the licenses, prompting Gregory’s withdrawal from the race. Gregory, who has since had discussions with the provincial government about pumping water from the lake, used Tuesday’s discussion to push his points.

“If we don’t have a plan to use it (water from the lake), we will loose the license to use it,” he said.

Tuesday’s discussion also focused on long-standing plans to divide the water system for residential and agricultural users, with council expected to receive an independent consultant’s report in the near future.

Council and declared candidates for the upcoming municipal election will also get a tour of the facility this Thursday.