Council has given three readings to a bylaw authorizing staff to borrow $13.5 million for the long-awaited upgrade to Kitimat's water treatment system. The new facility is designed to meet stringent regulatory requirements and reduce the likelihood of future water quality advisories.
The project has been in development since December 2022, following a successful pilot study by Public Works. The current water system, which has faced multiple water quality advisories since 2017, does not meet today’s standards. A Public Health Engineering report cited concerns, and since then, the District has been working on plans to address the risks. The new facility aims to ensure compliance with the 4-3-2-1-0 water treatment rule, which ensures the removal of viruses, bacteria, and other contaminants while meeting water clarity and safety standards.
“It’s being designed to serve a population of 11,700. It’s going to increase the alkalinity of the water, so that it's less corrosive on people’s plumbing. And the new building will be designed to Post-Disaster standards so it can survive significant events,” Kevin Carlson, Kitimat's engineering services project manager said.
The project has already seen progress, with 90 per cent of the design completed, the filter train fabrication finished and tree clearing for the site scheduled for Fall 2024. Construction is set to begin in April 2025, with substantial completion expected by December 2025. Full commissioning of the facility is projected for 2026.
The upgrade is estimated to cost $24.4 million. Kitimat has secured $5.99 million from the Canada-British Columbia Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program and $2.8 million from the Northwest BC Resource Benefits Alliance, but this leaves a shortfall of $13.5 million. Councillor Graham Pitzel questioned whether there were other options to reduce borrowing costs. In response, Kitimat’s director of engineering, Alex Ramos-Espinoza, said, “We do continue to look for other grant opportunities. The challenge is the project is now moving at a pretty fast pace, but we’re always looking for further opportunities.”
He noted that water treatment is both ongoing and costly, with Kitimat having one of the highest per-capita usages of treated water due to limited restrictions. He plans to formally seek council's guidance in the new year on how the district can improve water conservation efforts. “It’s critical to making sure our new plant is optimized and we don’t waste too much water.”
Once completed, the upgraded system will include water conditioning, direct sand filtration, and UV disinfection. The new facility will also feature a building elevated above the 200-year flood level and will be built with future population growth in mind.
The bylaw package will now be submitted to the province for approval before returning to council for final adoption. Staff project that the loan funding will be needed by spring 2025.
