by
Jennifer Dart
The Westerly News
October 19, 2005
Two projects aimed at alleviating Tofino's water shortage issues are on the horizon, but still in the distance.
Tenders for the Tofino Water Upgrade Project have been awarded, and some preliminary work is expected to start this fall, says Public Works Superintendent Gary Holte, but the project won't begin in earnest until May, 2006 and the completion date is set for the end of 2006.
This project involves the construction of a water supply main from Malthy Road to the Stump Dump, the construction of a $1.2 million reservior at the Stump Dump, a SCADA monitoring system, improvements to the inter-zonal pump station at Industrial Road, and a re-chlorination station in the south end of the district.
The upgrade addresses Tofino's long-term water issues and a grant for the reduced scope version of the project (which was originally supposed to extend to the airport) has been approved by the Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services (MCAWS). The grant structure is two-thirds government funded, with the district being responsible for the remaining third.
Holte says the bids for this project came in higher than expected due to elevated construction and commodity costs. However, he says the bids accepted reflect the amount the project will actually cost because both companies, Fournier Excavating and Knappett Projects Inc., have now set their contract prices.
Treasurer Martin Gee reported to council the "project remains viable despite the unexpected increases in project costs."
"Our inability to estimate accurately the tender submissions is due to the highly competitive construction market for the limited number of qualified contractors and the heavy demand for major construction materials such as concrete and steel," Gee wrote in a Sept. 21 report.
The total cost of the Water Upgrade project is $5,248,430, of which the district's one-third share is $1,749,477. The project will be funded through borrowing and Development Cost Charges (DCCs).
The proposed Ginard Creek reservoir expansion on Meares Island addresses immediate, short-term supply issues for the district. During the summer of 2004, Tofino's water supply dwindled to critically low levels, and the addition of this reservoir will allow for an additional 20 days to a month of reserve water during dry periods.
The Ginnard Creek site was "by far the most attractive option" on a cost per gallon basis, says Holte. This is mainly due to the fact the infrastructure is in place and needs only to be expanded.
Holte said the district is still waiting to hear from Land and Water BC (LWBC) regarding a separate grant application for Ginard Creek, and while staff originally thought they would know by the end of summer, reports are now indicating the decision won't be made until the end of the year.
According to its website, LWBC programs are now being "integrated into several different ministries," but Holte said "Tofino's application will still be decided by LWBC.
Council defeated a borrowing bylaw in August that would have brought the issue of borrowing additional funds for Ginnard Creek to referendum as part of this fall's municipal election. The district had to seek electoral assent because borrowing for the Water Upgrade project brought the district to its allowable limit without electoral assent.
Coun. Peter Ayres reported Oct. 11, on behalf of the Water Advisory Committee, test holes were drilled at the Ginnard Creek site that revealed sand and gravel soils. The testing was done to determine if a plastic liner will be suitable for the reservoir, because of potential water seepage.
Coun. Ayres also reported the plan for the reservoir has been responded to positively from local First Nations representatives.
Holte says it "would be nice" to have the Ginnard Creek reservoir in place for next summer, but the timeline is not looking good. He hopes at least to have the treatment portion of the project in place, which involves a new treatment facility at the Sharp Road pump station, so the water currently in the existing reservoir could be used without needing a boil water advisory order.
The district has used water from the existing reservoir before, but only "on the basis we issue a boil water advisory and lift the boil water advisory once the water distribution system is flushed with our main water."
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