The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) has secured a contractor for a feasibility study into new Chapman Water System groundwater sources.
That company, Kalwij Water Dynamics Inc., will undertake explorations on five rather than three test well sites.
At the July 27 SCRD board meeting, the value of the contract for that work was increased to $473,000 from the $330,000 award approved two weeks earlier.
Funds not needed for Chapman Lake siphon removal reallocated to well project
In the board’s original discussions on the project on July 13, Sechelt area director Alton Toth stated, "Drilling some wells is great, drilling more wells is better." He suggested expanding drilling efforts with 2023 budget funds no longer needed to pay for the removal of the Chapman Lake siphons. (On July 7, the SCRD was advised that the province had extended the approval for the siphons to remain in place through 2025.)
At earlier July board meeting, staff explained the available project budget at that point was $375,000. They recommended awarding the contract at the lower value to ensure it was in place and work planning could proceed. As contract quotes for a five-well drilling project were part of the call for tenders and Kalwij had responded to that, the recommendation was to proceed with the lower value and to consider amending the award value should additional funding be located.
At the subsequent board meeting, staff confirmed $100,000 from the siphon removal project could be transferred to the groundwater study.
What happens in well feasibility studies?
According to SCRD staff, the project will launch with desktop reviews, which will be on focused potential drilling sites in the West Sechelt area. The findings of that work are to be covered in an interim report to the board before the test drilling is scheduled. The report on drilling results is slated to be completed by mid-February 2024.
This work is part of the fifth phase of efforts that began in 2017 to enhance supplies in the Chapman system, which provides water to an estimated 90 per cent of the SCRD’s over 23,000 water customers, located in areas between Secret Cove and West Howe Sound.
