Water Consultants admit to lack of resources...water woes diary continues

Huh?

Lack of resources?
Staff?  Data?
Yup to both.

A full 10 years (in my case) after installation of three water meters (irrigation, clubhouse, and residence), neither elected officials, nor bureaucrats, nor water consultants have any idea how much water is used by domestic customers on the Duteau Creek Water System.

"What information did we use to design our treatment plant at Duteau Creek?  Simple.      It was a guess."  Councillor Kiss

By extension, they then also don't know how much water is used by commercial, farm, industrial/light industry/institutional.

Nor how much revenue was received from quarterly water billings.

This can't be true!

Proof is in the following correspondence, available on the District of Coldstream website, as a late agenda item to the October 9th, 2012 Committee-of-the-Whole meeting:

"October 5, 2012 memo from Councillor Kiss to Mayor Garlick and Council:
Hi Jim, ...here is a request I sent to David Sewell, copy to Trafford (Hall at RDNO), with the response.
It is beyond me how we can plan if these basic questions can't be answered.  What information did we use to design our treatment plant at Duteau Creek?  Simple.  it was a guess.  In order to design the treatment plant, one should have known what domestic water demand would be placed upon the Duteau source.  Putting in a treatment plant that would supply 2,000-3,000ML a year could have cost a fraction of the $29 million even with a small caliber parallel line to supply domestic users.  Who knows?  There is no evidence that a thorough analysis was carried out to determine the most cost effective plant.
I am perplexed about the reports the consultants are working on.
Tech Memo #2:  evaluation of water supply sources
Tech Memo #3: source storage and supply
Tech Memo #6:  water conservation strategies
... but should not we have had these reports before we built our treatment plant at Duteau?  ... Don't we have the information from the previous water plans?  

MWP (Master Water Plan 2002) produced 14 Technical Memoranda, as follows:
Technical Working Paper No. 1:  Inventory of Existing Systems and Water Demands
TWP No. 2:  Review of Financial Considerations and Strategies
TWP No. 3:  Community Development and Land Use
TWP No. 4: Water Conservation and Reuse
TWP No. 5:  Projection of Water Demands
TWP No. 6:  Water Quality Goals
TWP No. 7:  Evaluaton of Water Supply Sources
TWP No. 8:  Evaluation of Water Treatment Needs and Alternatives
TWP No. 9:  Development of a Separated Water System Concept
TWP No. 10:  Domestic Water System Development
TWP No. 11:  Irrigation System Development
TWP No. 12:  Options for Long Term Water System Development
TWP No. 13:  Implementation
TWP No. 14:  Water Rate Strategy

All we needed was an update of the above information...We need to have a thorough discussion on the water issue to mitigate the financial pressure placed on our taxpayers.  Gyula Kiss"

Councillor Kiss' memo to the Mayor and Council was prompted by this reply from the water consultant:

"October 4, 2012 email from David Sewell to Councillor Kiss, copy to Trafford Hall:
Gyula, As you know, the billing information for the customers of GVWU resides within each of the respective jurisdictions.  As these information systems are not integrated and use different platforms, a calculation of billing volumes and revenue summarized by water source would be an extremely time consuming and challenging process that at the present time we do not have the resources to accurately undertake.  The accuracy is further comprised(sic) by the degree of inter connection being built into the system. 
In discussions with the Administrator, it was suggested that if you would like to see this information gathering project advanced, please bring it forward through either GVAC or as part of the Technical Advisory Committee of the Master Water Plan process for discussion and prioritization relative to other resource draws.   Thanks.  David."

That was received after Councillor Kiss sent the consultant this question:

"October 3, 2012 email from Councillor Kiss to David Sewell, copy to Trafford Hall:
Hi David, I need some information regarding water revenue and volumes billed so I can contribute to the upcoming (District of Coldstream) budget preparations.   
I want to know what was the total domestic volume billed from the Duteau source and what was the revenue  as well as the same info relating to the Mission Hill treatment plant.  Domestic water includes industrial/commercial/institutional as well as home use.  I would appreciate receiving such info as this would help evaluating the cost effectiveness of each plant.  Thank you in advance.  Gyula".

Repeating Councillor Kiss' question is appropriate:

"...how we can plan if these basic questions can't be answered. " Councillor Kiss

Something else jumps out at this point, and that is Councillor Kiss' statement:  

 "Domestic water includes

 industrial/commercial/institutional as well as home use. "

 
 
Huh? 

So "domestic" includes EVERYTHING BUT FARM USE, including Okanagan Spring Brewery, Vernon Jubilee Hospital, car washes, golf courses, nurseries, water slide, restaurants, gyms, and...oh...residences.

Strange!
All those classifications.
All broad-brushed as "Domestic".

As a taxpayer, I need to know what my taxes and water fees are used for.  Yes, the Federal Government contributed $12 million of the $29 million cost of the Duteau Creek Water Treatment Plant...but the Federal grant is taxpayer money too!

"You forgot the consultant's fee too," quips Kia.