FAQs

• Moberly Water Society;
• Coral Beach Water System;
• Barkley Water Works Association;
• Eastside Utilities; and
• Private water systems near the study areas (individual wells or lake intakes).

Areas not included are includes the higher elevation properties on Commonage Road and properties near the Charolaise Drive area. Please refer to the map.

Coral Beach water system is projected to cost $5- $7 Million for a new reservoir, new intake building, and watermains replaced/upsized. Additional dollars would be required for Operating and Maintenance if or when invasive mussels were to be present in Okanagan Lake.

With 60 water customers on Coral Beach Water System the cost would be approximately $80,000 – $100,000 thousand per parcel for the necessary upgrades.

Eastside Utilities Ltd. (Eastside) is a privately-owned water system that is regulated by the Deputy Comptroller of Water Rights under the Water Utility Act and Utilities Commission Act.  In 1998, the Deputy Comptroller seized the daily operations and management of Eastside under section 97 of the UCA. 

In 2021, the Deputy Comptroller’s office (Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship) retained WSP to prepare an assessment of the current water system owned by Eastside Utility Ltd.  The assessment identified the upgrades needed to Eastside’s water system in order to meet current design standards and health objectives.  The main challenges facing Eastside relate to water quality (not meeting IHA’s drinking water objectives), inadequate fire protection, and aging infrastructure as the water system is 45 years old.  

WSP estimated the total cost of the recommended upgrades would be $18 million (in 2021 dollars) which would be equivalent to $114,000 per lot, based on 158 lots.  The total cost would now be about $20 million or $127,000 per lot when adjusted for inflation.    

If Eastside’s customers vote against the LSA, the total upgrade cost of approximately $20 million or $127,000 per lot would be the responsibility of the customers.  As a private utility, it is not eligible for government grants and/or long-term borrowing.  The Deputy Comptroller would have to consider special levies/capital charges to raise the money needed to complete the upgrades.   The monies would need to be raised prior to any upgrades being completed.  

Extending the public water system is currently projected to cost between $20 - $25 million, which works out to approximately $55,000 - $70,000 per property when divided equally amongst the parcels (dollar amounts do not include borrowing cost).

If your property is not part of Eastside Utility or Coral Beach there is an additional cost to run the water line from the road to your property. Cost will vary depending on your choice of plumbing contractor.

No. Grants are not included in the estimated price for the project. Council and staff are working hard to apply and qualify for grants that could potentially lower the cost.

Ideally community members should be advocating to Council, in addition to MLA Norm Letnick and MP Tracy Gray

In early 2025 - property owners within the project scope will receive an information package to explain the Petition Against Process. Included will be what action is required to vote against the project,

Property owners can choose to pay their portion upfront or over time as part of their property tax.

Properties that opt to pay over time will be subject to interest.

Eligible BC residents can apply for the provincial deferment property tax program.    

Council will be required to initiate the process, which will likely be in early 2025. 

Farms are not within the scope of the project. Only residential properties.

Multiple properties owned by O'Rourke's are in the LSA. The commercial properties have been excluded because the system does not have the capacity for commercial fire flows. The commercial properties have installed their own system to provide fire flows. 

Each water system needs their own solution. For Eastside Utilities and Coral Beach the costs are expected to be greater to each property than this proposed solution.

The assessed value of the 368 parcels within the project scope is $747,446,786

Properties within the LSA will be required to pay their portion of the project cost if the project goes ahead, and will receive a domestic water service; however, initially these systems will not be required to connect to the municipal water system. There are circumstances through a building or renovation process where a property may be required to connect.

Yes, eligible properties would be able to defer LSA charges as determined by the requirements set out by the province.

The Lake Country water system is funded entirely from water user rates, grants, and DCC charges. Property tax revenue is not used for funding projects related to the municipal water system

No. Revenue collected from property tax does not contribute towards water or water infrastructure anywhere in Lake Country.  

Direct mailings are being sent out to all property owners within the project scope. Addresses on file with the District (same address property tax notices are sent to) are being used for the project.

Please sign up for MyLakeCountry if you haven't already. 

MyLakeCountry is an online account that gives you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week secure access to information regarding your District of Lake Country accounts such as Property Tax, Licenses and Permits. Once you sign up the project team can use your email address to send out notifications relating to this project.

Starting immediately all project information will be emailed (if you have signed up) and mailed through Canada Post.  

• Once Council makes the decision to begin the Petition Against process instruction packages will be mailed to all property owners within the project scope to the address on title. 
• The information package and petition can be emailed if requested and will be available on the District’s website.
• Petitions must be signed (actual ink signature, not an electronic signature) and a scanned or copy of the petition can be returned via email, mail, or otherwise delivered to the District Office, no later than the deadline (to be determined). 
• Petitions must be returned by the deadline (30 days from second newspaper notice) for them to count. 
• Petition must be signed by the owners. 
  • If 2 or more people are on title it’s considered one petition against. 
  • A majority of all owners on title must sign the petition for it to be counted. 
  • Owners do not have to live at the property address or in British Columbia
• Council may proceed with establishing the local service area unless it receives sufficient petitions against. 
• Sufficient petitions against means petitions signed by: 50% of owners with 50% of the assessed value. 
• Petitions must be returned by the deadline (30 days from second newspaper notice) for them to count.