CSRD asked by Revelstoke to apply for grant to address septage disposal
Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) directors are hoping to score three for three at the upcoming Union of British Columbia Municipalities convention.
UBCM published the 2025 Strategic Priorities Fund program guidelines in May, giving regional districts the opportunity to make up to four funding applications, for up to 100 per cent of the cost of eligible projects to a maximum of $7 million per application.
According to the guidelines, a maximum of three applications may be made under the Capital Infrastructure Stream (CIS), with the other being the Capacity Building Stream (CBS).
In his report to the Aug. 21 CSRD board meeting, environmental and utility services general manager Ben Van Nostrand, General Manager told directors that $119 million in CIS funding is available, with another $6 million in the CBC to support infrastructure and capacity building projects.
Directors were asked to approve three applications - expansion of the Sorrento Water System Reservoir Capacity Project and Anglemont Fire hall construction under the CIS, and the development of Master Water Plans for CSRD water treatment and distribution systems under the CBS.
At this time, several Sorrento residents are being forced to haul water from the Sorrento bulk water station due to poor water quality or low to zero capacity supply wells on their property.
Van Nostrand advised directors that reservoir storage capacity for potable water in Sorrento is insufficient for new community housing initiatives, including the expansion of the service area to existing housing with no municipal water connection services.
"Furthermore, the existing reservoir capacity is insufficient to support emergency forest fire threats, as experienced in 2023 Bush Creek Fire," noted Van Nostrand.
He noted that CSRD purchased land and a preliminary design engineering plan for the Sorrento Water System was updated in 2024, but the project needs additional funding in order to move forward.
At a recent community meeting, staff indicated that 2025 cost estimates for the expansion project are approximately $4.52 million.
The second request is for a new fire hall in Anglemont, as the current hall, located at the top of Golf Course Road, presents significant operational and safety challenges due to its location on a steep grade. This is particularly hazardous for large fire trucks during winter conditions and compromises emergency response times as well as posing a risk to volunteer firefighters when responding to calls.
An facility assessment report completed in December 2021 highlighted critical structural concerns with the foundation and roof, both of which require major investment to address.
"The report further indicates the total cost of repairs and maintenance over the next five years would represent a substantial portion of the cost to build a new fire hall.
The proposed fire hall will be based on the design of the Scotch Creek fire hall, with minor modifications to reduce the community hall component to a smaller training space, ensuring cost efficiency and consistency across CSRD fire services. The estimated cost for the project is $5.61 million, based on the Class B cost estimate for the Scotch Creek fire hall.
The request under the CBC is for funds to produce master water plans for the entire CSRD water treatment and distribution systems and includes a request for $10,000 to engage a qualified professional to help with the submission, said Van Nostrand.
He pointed out that master water plans play a role in identifying and planning for future system requirements and upgrades, and are typically developed in conjunction with asset management plans and capital replacement planning.
Van Nostrand said master plans provide a safeguard to public health by addressing water risks like drought or water quality issues, and support water conservation initiatives and water metering programs.
He told directors the grant application is a significant undertaking that includes 54 questions, many of which concern cost estimates
"We just felt that to put forward the best application possible, we would engage a consultant to help with that work," he said. "It will double as well if we are not successful. The work that is done by the consultant will be able to carry forward to future work plans to help estimate the funding for that work if we need to do it ourselves without the grant funding."
Following unanimous board approval of the motions, chief administrative officer John MacLean advised that seeing as the CSRD is making only three of four allowable applications, the City of Revelstoke, which is permitted to make only one application, has asked if the board would consider a grant application to support the inclusion of septage in their new waste management plan.
MacLean also pointed out that by including an application on behalf of Revelstoke, CSRD runs the risk of one of their applications being denied.
Considerable conversation ensued with the majority of directors expressing concern for the growing issue of septage disposal across the regional district, particularly in rural areas such as Area B Rural Revelstoke where most residents are on septic. Questions were raised about the content of a possible Revelstoke application, the need for more information, and how the board would be able to give approval by the application deadline of Sept. 12.
"My understanding is that the City of Revelstoke has done some of this work and are estimating the cost for the infrastructure to support septage management ahead of their sewage treatment plan to be $1.5 million," said Van Nostrand. "They are, through this process, requesting that the CSRD add this grant application to cover off that specific component of their overall sewage treatment plant upgrades."
Directors then gave approval to a motion to ask the City of Revelstoke to develop a request for an application to the Strategic Priorities Fund regarding septage and bring it back to the board for consideration, with Area C and F directors Marty Gibbons and Jay Simpson opposing.