Water meter for ag grounds

Sharon McLeay
Times Contributor

 

A $40,000 budget was allocated in 2014 for the Ag Grounds Water Metering project; however, cost analysis shows that an additional $30,000 will be needed later to complete the entire project, which includes a meter/vault building, line meters to the various buildings and ice rink, hardware, contingency work fund and engineering costs. Planners asked that the original $40,000 be put towards the mainline water meter installation that would tie town water into the agricultural society grounds, which was necessary to protect the quality of town water.
“We have been asked and been engaged by the Strathmore Agricultural Society on the technical review for water service to the ag grounds,” said Gord Elenko, engineering director for the Town of Strathmore.
He said the team was doing an onsite technical review this week.
The grounds have service lines that provide water to the campground and three structures on the south end of the grounds. The grounds currently have one private well. There were concerns that the untreated well could cross-contaminate town lines, unless a special isolation valve is installed.
There were financial concerns noted by Councillor Denise Peterson as to whether the ag society could afford metered water.
“I certainly support in theory what we are doing to protect the integrity of the water supply and know how much water we are using,” said Peterson. “My concern is once we put this meter in, we could typically, with the ball diamonds there … I think I heard one time a figure sometime … be looking at the amount of $30,000 to $50,000 worth of water. I have had the opportunity in the last few years to look at the ag society books, and I don’t see them actually being able to afford this. If this converts into an actual cost to the society, it could bring them down. In order to support this, I need some kind of assurance that this something that can be looked at in depth.”
Administration indicated that the ag society has requested a meeting to discuss whether a joint partnership with the town could be reached to deal with the issue. Administration assured council that at this point, the mainline water meter will not result in a bill. A bill wouldn’t be forthcoming until the issue comes through council for approval. Currently, the ag society pays about $3,000 per month for water service just to the onsite washrooms.
Councillor Rocky Blokland reminded council that Strathmore residents were paying high costs for their water use and that the 30 per cent water losses experienced by the town needed to be considered. He questioned whether the town knew how much water the grounds were actually using.
Elenko said metering would help establish how much water was being used.
Council approved the additional funds, which would be taken from the financial stabilization fund.