TNRD – $7 million federal grant assures new water filtration plant for Savona

Savona will get a new membrane filtration water plant thanks in large part to a $7 million federal grant.

The Thompson-Nicola Regional District said Thursday the grant comes from the Strategic Priorities Fund, the same one that provided $7 million to Kamloops’ Performing Arts Centre yesterday.

The Savona grant is the largest received for any project in the TNRD’s history. Four years ago, under the previous regional board, the federal government provided $5 million for a new membrane filtration water plant in north Pritchard. That plant is almost ready to go online.

In Savona, the new facility will address longstanding water quality concerns caused by elevated turbidity in the water system’s source, drawn from Kamloops Lake.

It will include membrane filtration and upgrades to existing infrastructure, ensuring compliance with Interior Health drinking water standards and  improving water quality for about 650 residents.

TNRD staff will proceed project design and engineering beginning this fall. The project is expected to cost $11 million in total and will be fully grant funded with no additional costs to ratepayers, the regional district said.

Grant funding includes the $7 million through the Strategic Priorities Fund, $3 million through the Growing Communities Fund, and $1 million through the Build Communities Strong Fund.

“As the largest community water system operated by the TNRD, Savona’s system will benefit from the addition of a state-of-the-art water filtration plant that will finally end the chronic annual boil water advisories for the community,” said Mike Grenier, director for Electoral Area “J” (Copper Desert Country) and chair of the TNRD utility systems committee.

“I am grateful to TNRD staff and my fellow board members for unanimously supporting this priority grant funding application. I also want to thank the Province and Union of BC Municipalities for their constructive dialogue regarding TNRD water systems.”

The TNRD owns and operates 11 community water systems, all of which were constructed within communities and later turned over to the TNRD. They range in size from 16 connections to about 325 connections.