28 Christmas Merry Ready to step up your compact?
COUNTRY LIFE IN BC • DECEMBER 2017 Kelowna seeks input on the
future of local water management Overhaul of local water supply includes possible changes to water rates
by MYRNA STARK LEADER
KELOWNA – Kelowna's move to integrate the Southeast Kelowna and South Okanagan Mission irrigation districts in the municipal water system has created an opportunity to review the rates agricultural water users pay. Kevin Van Vliet, utility services manager for
The new Massey Ferguson® 1700 Series is rugged
enough for hauling, loading - even plowing. It’s easy to operate and ideal for small mixed and specialty farms.
Ready to dominate.
Kelowna, said that the addition of 500 agricultural customers to the municipal system by 2020 makes changes to the rate structure necessary. Right now, municipal water flows to just 16
agricultural users. The water rates those users pay is subsidized by other classes of ratepayers in order to ensure a sustainable rate for farmers. But with the number of agricultural ratepayers growing to more than 500, Kelowna residents and farmers have to determine an equitable solution. Paying for water can happen in several
ways. Agricultural customers are charged on a pay-per-use basis. Other customers pay a fixed fee per acre of irrigated land. Sometimes, the two are combined; residential and commercial customers, for example, pay a set rate plus payments based on water use. Yet another model sees prices increasing in step with usage. Kelowna’s existing agricultural customers
Put more power to the ground and enjoy a smoother ride in the field or on the road with our new front axle suspension in the CHALLENGER®
500E Series tractor. Versatility in action.
currently pay $0.114 per cubic metre for all water consumed on the property with no additional fee for a residence. In contrast, those supplied by the South Okanagan Mission Irrigation District (SOMID) pay a fixed fee per acre of land that has been allocated water. South East Kelowna Irrigation District (SEKID) farmers pay a fixed fee per acre and then additional fees if they exceed their allocation. Residences in SEKID pay a separate, additional water fee. A fixed fee per acre of land provides more
certainty to the farmer when it comes to predicting costs but no incentive to conserve water, something the city wants to foster. Kelowna’s and SOMID’s rate models are at opposite ends of the spectrum possible for rate structures. Van Vliet has stated publicly that farmers will get plenty of advance notice of any changes.
With up to 12 wheel-track options including a narrow track frame option, the mid-size, 5-ton S-500 spreader is versatile enough to adapt to nearly any situation on small or large farm operations.
Quality Pre-Owned Tractors & Equipment
AGCO ST 40 W/LDR . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13,000 BOBCAT S570 LOW HOURS . . . . . . 42,000 FARMKING BATWING RAKE . . . . . . 7,500 FELLA TS 800 RAKE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CALL FORD 7700 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,500 FORD 4000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CALL GASPARDO PLANTER 4 ROW . . . . 35,000 JCB 409 WHEEL LOADER . . . . . . . . 45,000 JD DISC 12’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CALL KVERNELAND 4032 MOWER . . . . . 16,000
KVERNELAND 12’
FR.MT MOWER . CALL LEON 425 SPREADER . . . . . . . . . . . 22,000 LONG SWITCH PLOW . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,500 NH 1037 BALE WAGON . . . . . . . . . . 12,500 NEW HOLLAND 570 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,500 NEW HOLLAND TM150 . . . . . . . . . 47,000 SUNFLOWER 7232 23 FT HARROW 17,500 TYCROP DUMPBOX . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,500 VALMAR 1255 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13,000 WHITE 8310 4X4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35,000
We service all makes!
Van Der Wal Equipment (1989) Ltd. 23390 RIVER ROAD, MAPLE RIDGE, BC V2W 1B6 604/463-3681 |
vanderwaleq.com
VALLEY FARM DRAINAGE 604-462-7213 |
valleyfarmdrainage.com
“While SEKID will continue to set the irrigation rates for customers in 2018 and 2019, we hope to give customers assurance and advance notice of any changes to the rate design that may affect them,” he said in a recent statement the city released regarding the consultation.
The consultation is integral to keeping farmers aware, and ensuring the entire community’s input into what’s coming down the pipe.
Survey to start
The consultation process will likely start with an online survey but will also include information sharing sessions and in-person meetings in early 2018. Kelowna wants to know first what agricultural water users value, their priorities, concerns and impacts before it develops new water pricing options and a recommendation for city council. The cost for integrating SEKID and SOMID users within Kelowna’s water system is pegged at $61.3 million. The project received $43.9 million in federal and provincial funding in March, with the remainder coming from local sources. A total of 31 irrigation districts and local water utilities serving Kelowna’s 125,000 residents will become part of the municipal system. Over time, Kelowna’s water will come from
Mission Creek when quality is good and Okanagan Lake at other times. Using creek water is more cost-effective than pumping water from the lake and focusing on two main sources also saves treatment costs. Drinking and agricultural water systems will be separated in the agricultural areas. To reduce costs over time, lower quality,
untreated water will flow to agricultural customers. Primary agricultural sources include Hydraulic, Scotty and Kelowna creeks along with existing wells. Mission Creek and Okanagan Lake will supplement supplies if the main agricultural sources are compromised. Given predictions of a warmer, drier region in the future, Kelowna hopes the new system will create a more resilient water supply network. To track the project’s latest developments, and to receive email updates, visit [
www.kelowna.ca/water].
From our family to yours, a very Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
Todd
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
