VIEW STAFF RESPONSES TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS HERE
On occasion, property owners adjacent to the Myrtle Pond Water System have asked the qRD if they could be added to the Myrtle Pond Water System. As the Myrtle Pond Water System is designed to only supply water to properties within the current water system boundary the answer has always been that new properties could not be added to the service. The qRD is not proposing an expansion of the Myrtle Pond Water System at this time. The Proposed Myrtle Pond Capital Inclusion Charge Bylaw is only setting the rates for properties that wish to be added to the service.

 

The inclusion charge would not be charged until a property owner, or group of property owners decide to formally join the system, and the service area boundary is expanded through a formal service area expansion bylaw. The intention of engagement is to provide Myrtle Pond service users and those surrounding the area with this information on inclusion rates which are based on the studies prepared by industry professionals. These rates are intended to provide information so that property owners that want to consider joining the Myrtle Pond Water System can make informed decisions. Feedback on the bylaw is welcomed.

 

The Myrtle Pond Water System consists of 82 developed lots and two undeveloped lots that are within the current water service boundary. Owners of properties adjacent to the service area have, in the past, expressed an interest in being added to the Myrtle Pond Water System.

What is the Myrtle Pond Water System Capital Inclusion Charge Bylaw?

This bylaw establishes fees that must be paid by prospective developers and property owners who are not currently part of the system but that wish to potentially join the system. These fees are designed to contribute to the capital costs associated with expanding the infrastructure needed to accommodate the growth of the service. Essentially, it provides transparency about the cost of joining the system for those who are not currently part of it, but it does not automatically include properties that are not already part of the system.

The bylaw does not mean that property owners outside of the current water system boundary would be charged the fee – the bylaw just sets up a fee that would be charged to property owners that decide that they do want to join the system.To support the build out, the water treatment system would need to be upgraded and extensions to the water distribution system would be required. As these upgrades would only benefit the new (added) users that are currently outside of the service area, the qRD needs a mechanism for the new users to contribute toward the cost of the upgrade and extensions.

A capital inclusion charge would provide a mechanism to impose these charges. On November 24, 2022, the Board gave first and second reading to Myrtle Pond Water Service Capital Inclusion Charge Bylaw No. 579, 2022.

 

What is the objective of the Open Houses on September 26?

The objective of the meetings on September 26 are to let property owners, within the Myrtle Pond Water System, and owners of properties adjacent to the water system, know about an inclusion charge that the qRD is considering putting into place. The Myrtle Pond Water System currently provides potable water to 82 developed and two undeveloped lots that are within the water service boundary.

 

A study of the water system concluded that there is enough water to supply an additional 81 residential lots which are currently not within the system’s boundary and are currently not connected to the water system. While the quantity of water was deemed to be sufficient the infrastructure and water treatment is not currently in place to supply potable water to these potential new users. Properties adjacent to the water system that are not connected to the Myrtle Pond Water System currently receive water from the Centennial Drive Water System or from their own wells.  Once the Capital Inclusion Charge Bylaw is adopted property owners that are not currently within the Myrtle Pond Water System boundary will continue to receive water from the Centennial Drive Water System or from their own wells.

 

The meetings are simply to inform property owners about the process that was undertaken to develop the inclusion charge. The inclusion charge is being developed in order to provide an appropriate fee to charge property owners, or groups of properties owners, that want to join the system. Currently, in the absence of this bylaw, if a property owner adjacent to the water system wants to join the water system, the qRD does not have a mechanism to allow the property owner to be added to the system. This bylaw would provide that mechanism but is in no way intended to force property owners to join the system.

Reports and Studies