The first drop in the move towards a new well and chlorination facility for the Village of Montrose has fallen with selection of a local engineering firm to begin the structural component.
On July 3, village council approved Redwood Engineering’s initial fee estimate of $25,000 for the structural design and drafting for the pump house and contact chamber. In addition, Redwood will complete structural schedules in compliance with the BC Building Code.
TRUE Consulting recommended partnering with the local engineer group to work on the structural component of this project because of the firm’s experience.
“It adds complexity to the project if an out-of-town consultant has to schedule visits,” explained Kevin Chartres, the chief administrative officer, indicating the village council ousted a series of slightly lower estimates from other companies.
On Jan. 27, a $1.3-million Gas Tax Fund grant was bestowed on Montrose for water quality upgrades that includes the creation of a chlorination facility and replacement of a failing well.
The grant will aid construction of a new well and pump house.
Some of the highlights include a flow meter and state of the art communications, on-site back-up power generator, new main piping and a new chlorination facility.
The project benefits include a $1.3 million reduction in infrastructure costs, cleaner water that eliminates health risks and a sustainable water supply. In addition, an on-site generator will provide back up power to wells during power outages.
More than one year ago, the village issued a boil water advisory because of test results indicating low levels of total coliforms, a verdict that informed residents their water did not meet the BC Drinking Water Protection Regulation.
The village expects to inject 1 milligram per litre of water (one part per million) of chlorine into the system. The minimum chlorine residual required at the distribution extremities is 0.2 parts per million.
Benefits of the chlorination include preventing life-threatening diseases or other health risks, like cholera and typhoid fever.
The Gas Tax Fund is intended to support capital projects such as local roads, public transit, energy systems and waste management infrastructure.