Mabel Lake Water Utility

Update - September 12, 2023: The construction work impacting Walker Road area is now complete and the system has been returned to normal operations.
You may experience some cloudiness and/or air in the water. Please run a cold water tap closest to where the water enters your residence at low volume until the water has cleared.
Original Notice: Customers of the Mabel Lake Water Utility (MLW) on a portion of Walker Road are advised that the water supply may be turned off on Monday, September 11, 2023 during planned construction work. For more information, click here.

The Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) manages the Mabel Lake Water (MLW) system located in Electoral Area “F”. The MLW system serves customers in the Kingfisher area, east of Enderby.

Water and Sewer Capacity Concerns

The community serviced by the Mabel Lake Water and Sewer utilities has undergone significant development in the last few years, putting additional strain on supply, capacity and distribution. As a result, the RDNO is completing a capacity study with funding assistance from the Provincial Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program – Economic Diversification Fund to review both the water and sewer utilities.

The capacity study is now underway and will review water use and sewer effluent patterns, current infrastructure, assess the remaining capacity of each utility and upgrade requirements for the future. The final report will also provide recommendations and costs on infrastructure improvements, identify ways to control peak flows like water metering, establish triggers for upgrades, and provide an estimate of future treatment requirements to meet provincial standards.

While the study seeks to create a plan for the long term, short-term capacity issues still remain, so the RDNO has updated the Small Utilities Rates and Regulations Bylaw No. 2867 to make changes for connecting to the utilities. Properties that are currently paying the Infrastructure Base Fee can apply to connect one single-family unit per lot to the system for a fee of $6,280.

Any other types of developments that want to connect before the study is complete are subject to additional infrastructure requirements. This could include applications for buildings like duplexes, secondary homes on one lot, single-family houses that do not already pay the Infrastructure Base Fee or any commercial use. Once the RDNO has completed the capacity study, we will update our utility capital and infrastructure plans, budgets and Bylaw No. 2867 appropriately to address these types of developments. For additional information, contact utilities@rdno.ca.

Water rates are set by the RDNO Board of Directors, which includes political representatives from the municipalities they serve. Rates are based on the actual cost to provide water. MLW does not receive any taxation money and the only outside source of income are grant funds that the utility seeks out to assist in reducing costs to customers.
Properties within the MLW system will be invoiced fixed fees annually. The invoice period runs January 1 - December 31 will bills going out in June. A discount of 10% will be applied to the RDNO account if paid on or before the due date.
The water rates for the MLW system can be found on Schedule D of the Small Utilities Rates and Regulations Bylaw.
Billing Information
Water & Sewer Utility Billing
How to Pay Your Utility Bill
As a regional utility, MLW legally cannot make a profit on services. A deficit is also not allowed and each year’s annual expenses (see example list below) must be recovered directly from user fees during that year or be funded from reserves.
Expected annual expenses
- Operations
- Maintenance
- debt payments
- construction, and
- reserve contributions
All parcels with a service connection pay an Infrastructure Base Fee independent of whether the parcel is connected to the water utility or not.
A consumption fee is charged for water consumption for each residential unit and/or commercial unit (in addition to the Infrastructure Base Fee). Once a property has been connected to the water utility infrastructure, the consumption fee will always be charged to that property. It will not be adjusted seasonally.
How do I change my mailing address?
Notify BC Assessment directly to change your mailing address so that future utility bills, property tax notices and BC Assessment notices are mailed to your new address.
The RDNO receives weekly notification of address changes. BC Assessment Change of Address Notification can be completed the following ways:
- go to their website at "update your property information"
- call 1-866-825-8322
- forward via mail to: 300-1631 Dickson Avenue, Kelowna BC V1Y 8H2.
You will need your property roll number and assessment and jurisdiction area numbers in order to make the address change.
What if property ownership changes?
Utility invoices follow the property, not the owner. The RDNO does not get final meter reads (if a meter is installed) or create final bills when a property changes hands. The law firm or notary that is conveying the sale must contact the RDNO Finance department for an estimate of the amount owing and adjust for this amount on your statement of adjustments.
Note that the charges remain with the property when it is transferred and the new owner becomes responsible for these payments. The RDNO cannot make adjustments between owners if the actual amount of the final bill is different from the estimate.
I just bought a property in the Regional District and the first utility bill I received shows arrears from before I bought the property. Who is responsible for paying these arrears?
It is the responsibility of the lawyer or notary handling the transfer of ownership to ensure that a search is done through the RDNO to determine if there are any outstanding utility charges on a property and include those charges on the statement of adjustments. This is required to be sure that there are no outstanding debts or encumbrances attached to the property upon transfer of ownership.
To ensure water remains clean and uncontaminated, the RDNO has a Cross Connection Control Program. Certain services at higher risk of introducing contaminates into the water system must install cross connection prevention devices as per the Regional District of North Okanagan Cross Connection Control Regulation Bylaw No. 2651, 2014. These devices prevent contaminates from flowing backward, in the rare but possible instances of reverse flow into the community water supply.
- Mabel Lake Water System Overview Map 1
- Mabel Lake Water System Overview Map 2
- Mabel Lake Water Utility - 2019 Master Water Plan
To ensure water remains clean and uncontaminated right to your tap, we have implemented a Cross Connection Control Program. Certain services at higher risk of introducing contaminates into the water system must install cross connection prevention devices as per Regional District of North Okanagan Cross Connection Control Regulation Bylaw No. 2651, 2014 (Bylaw 2651). These devices prevent contaminants from flowing backward within a piping system and into the potable (drinking) water system.
- Cross Connection Control Program
- Cross Connection Control Regulation – Bylaw No. 2651, 2014

Billing Information
Water & Sewer Utility Billing
How to Pay Your Utility Bill

Contact(s)

Mabel Lake Water Utility

Mabel Lake Water Utility

utilities@rdno.ca

2505503700