Project Description
Greater Vernon Water (GVW) is a regional water utility in the North Okanagan of British Columbia and provides irrigation and potable water to the City of Vernon (CoV), District of Coldstream (DoC) and parts of Electoral Areas “B”, “C” & “D” and the Township of Spallumcheen.
RDNO staff completed a preliminary assessment of issues and concerns regarding water capacity from a supply and storage perspective and changing characteristics of water demand affecting the volume and the timing of use. Consideration of each of these factors introduces a high level of complexity to the understanding of GVW capacity to meet future water demands, as such the RDNO is looking for an in-depth analysis of these concerns, and identification of other potential issues.
Using the information provided in the staff report, the consultant will refine the numbers presented, provide a reasonable estimate of water availability for growth and provide a preliminary strategy for moving forward. The report will focus on completing an assessment of GVW’s current and future accessible water capacity, current and future growth potential and demands, a review of climate change predictions and impacts on GVW capacity and a preliminary assessment of infrastructure improvements required to meet future demands.
RDNO is looking to complete this work within a tight schedule in order to provide direction for current and upcoming projects.
GVW is looking to answer the question of whether the utility has sufficient water in the future to accommodate planned development while still accommodating the long-term viability of the existing community it provides services to. If it is identified that there is not sufficient water, then the study is to identify how much development can be sustainably supported. Hence, the primary objective of GVW Water Capacity Study is to provide in-depth analysis of the concerns identified by staff, identify other potential issues, provide strategies and recommendations on moving forward and provide preliminary recommendations on infrastructure requirements to access water licenses.