Kamloops emergency water system approved despite opposition from some councillors

KAMLOOPS – An emergency water intake inspired debate from dubious Kamloops city councillors, but in the end council agreed to award the $8.2 million contract.

The emergency water intake project will cost $9.6 million in total, with council approving an additional $450,000 at yesterday’s, Oct. 18, meeting. However, it wasn’t a unanimous decision, as councillors Denis Walsh and Donovan Cavers voted against the project.

“If this $10 million facility is ever turned on in my lifetime I’ll eat my shorts,” Cavers said. “But I don’t think that’ll ever happen.”

Both Walsh and Cavers believe the emergency system is an unwise use of funds. The emergency intake, to be located on the North Thompson River, would come into use if the city’s current water supply coming from the South Thompson River wasn’t usable for some reason. Currently there is no emergency intake.

Of the total $9.6 million, $6 million is from a federal grant, while the rest will come from municipal coffers. The project had been previously approved by council, yesterday’s vote was to approve city administration’s choice of contractor.

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