This summer, for the first time in two years, the residents of Montrose will be able to turn on the tap to quench their thirst,without boiling first.
The village is in the final stages of construction of a new pump house and chlorination facility.
At the Monday night council meeting, Kevin Chartres, chief administrative officer, provided an update related to the water supply improvements project.
“The projected date to finish the construction is April 30th,” he said.
The pre-cast building is constructed; interior painting has been completed; and electrical started running in the building on Friday, explained Chartres.
He added that the chlorine contact chamber is being cleaned of excess ‘drippings’ and grout work is being completed.
Additionally, sampling for hazardous materials at both pump houses have been competed by Kootenay Hazmat Services, he said.
“We are getting really busy with all the trades on site,” said Chartres.
“A lot will be happening over the next six weeks.”
Even with the construction completion date in sight, lifting the boil water advisory will take a bit more time, he said.
Chartres explained that the village will need to provide clean bacteriological samples to BC Drinking Water Protection Regulation, to demonstrate that the facility is working.
“The boil water ban can only be lifted after clean samples have been passed,” he said.
A “Water Condition Normal Notice” will be issued when the drinking water official is satisfied the drinking water quality meets the standard for total coliforms.
In February 2011, the Village of Montrose issued a boil water advisory because test results indicated low levels of total coliforms, a bacterial indicator of water contamination.
Later that year, the village spent $17,000 on water tests to prepare for the new well and chlorination facility.
In January 2012, the village received federal assistance with these infrastructure costs when they were granted $1.3 million from the Gas Tax Fund.