Crews and equipment are scheduled to begin work May 16 on the replacement of the Horizon Village Lift Station, an important component of the City of West Kelowna’s sanitary sewer system.
The project involves the removal of the old lift station and the installation of three new energy efficient pumps, a new control systems building, emergency storage capacity and a backup power supply.
The new lift station will improve system reliability and efficiency, and serve more than 3,000 people living in and around the West Kelowna Estates neighbourhood in the northwest part of the municipality. Construction is expected to be completed before October 31.
“West Kelowna is being forced to grow up quickly; little more than a decade ago this city was a largely rural area. As our community continues to grow rapidly, the demands on our municipality to provide reliable and efficient urban services have never been greater; and, the costs of providing essential transportation, wastewater and water infrastructure continue to increase," said Doug Findlater, Mayor of West Kelowna.
The federal and provincial governments are partnering with the city to fund the project, each contributing up to $454,015, which Findlater noted was key in allowing them to meet infrastructure needs.
The total estimated cost of this project is $1,362,045. The City of West Kelowna will be responsible for all remaining costs.
"As the City of West Kelowna continues to grow and attract new residents, infrastructure must grow along with it," said Premier Christy Clark. "The replacement of the Horizon Village Lift Station will provide additional storage and a backup energy supply to reduce the risk of wastewater discharge in case of emergency. It's partnerships like this across all levels of government that promote core community values and provide benefits to all citizens."
The $1-billion Small Communities Fund supports priority public infrastructure projects in communities across the country with less than 100,000 residents.