Skaha Lake water study could benefit several water purveyors

PENTICTON – A small South Okanagan improvement district hopes the potential benefit of its water quality grant application to other water purveyors will help sway regional directors in favour of supporting it later this week.

The Kaleden Irrigation District applied recently for 50 per cent funding from the Okanagan Basin Water Board to support a source assessment of Skaha Lake.

The water board requires all grant applications to have a resolution supporting them from the organization’s local government.

The assessment is needed in order for the irrigation district to complete its source protection plan, part of an Interior Health requirement for the district’s operating permit.

The district has set aside $10,500 and is requesting matching funds from the water board, for the $21,013 study, which district manager Kevin Huey says will benefit other water purveyors who draw from Skaha Lake as well.

Okanagan Falls Irrigation District and other downstream users could potentially benefit from the study when they undergo similar studies of their own.

Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen’s Board of Directors are expected to vote on a recommendation of support at the March 1 regular board meeting.

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