The District of Barriere announced on Tuesday, Mar. 22, good news regarding the water system in the Louis Creek Industrial Park, advising the Community Economic Recovery Infrastructure Program (CERIP) - Water Expansion Project has been approved by the Province of B.C. Ministry of Forest, Lands, Natural Resources Operations and Rural Development for the expansion of the Louis Creek Industrial Park (LCIP) water system.
Currently the water supply at that industrial park has been providing a small amount of potable water services to the companies that started businesses on the site over the past few years, however the old on site reservoir was not commissioned for potable water and therefore needed significant maintenance each summer to be used for the fire suppression system to be available.
District staff explained that the full build out of the water system at the Louis Creek site has been designed to be constructed in phases. Phase 1 of the system was constructed in 2020 and comprises a supply well, rated at 50 USgpm. The water is chlorinated and distributed as potable water meeting the requirements of the Canadian Drinking Water Quality Guidelines to the Phase 1 industrial park properties.
The potable water distribution system is comprised of a 100mm diameter supply main, and 50mm diameter services have been extended from the potable water supply main. A larger distribution main consisting of 250mm PVC has also been constructed to front the serviced properties. This main is connected on the property to the original Tolko’s former open-air reservoir and is capable of providing fire protection to the LCIP service area. The 250mm diameter main is not potable and is not connected to the 100mm potable supply system.
Presently, the district utilizes the open-air reservoir and also relies on fire protection from its fire truck apparatus’ directly.
Future phases of the LCIP system will include the reservoir, a second supply well, and extension of the distribution system.
Upon completion of the reservoir, the small diameter potable main will be connected to the larger diameter fire suppression system so that fire protection and potable supply can be provided to the service area.
“This new grant of one million dollars from economic recovery will support the construction and expansion of the water system, and include an enclosed water reservoir that will be able to provide a more secure and reliable source of water for fire suppression and potable use,” said District of Barriere Mayor Ward Stamer, “The reservoir will provide a buffering volume and will allow the District to provide stabilized water pressures and increased fire protection to the service area.
“The complete build out of the water system at the LCIP is a separate system from that which the district uses for our residents in town, and has it’s own water well directly in the LCIP,” added the mayor, “District council is excited about this grant funding as we grow together and improve our community. Our engineering consultants have completed the preliminary reviews, including geotechnical studies and we look forward to expanding the water system over the next two years. Having a secure and reliable fire suppression system at the LCIP is a critical component of the LCIP, that will help drive our economic recovery in this region.”
_______________
Like us on Facebook