WSA QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

TORRINGTON QUESTIONS & ANSWERS - FEBRUARY 22, 2011 COUNCIL MEETING

1.       There are concerns about the quality of water from the Red Deer River, which is inferior to the soft water that we now have.  We do not want to give up good soft water for hard water.  Not all the testing and reporting makes it good soft water like we have now.

A statement, nothing to answer.

2.       How many times since Phase 1, 2 and 3 were in place, has there been a boil water advisory?

The Water Service Areas get their water off the Drumheller line and since January 2008 when the Water Service Areas have been in service there has not been any boil water advisories.  There was a boil water advisory in April 2007 prior to the Water Service Areas being in service.

3.       Can you guarantee all pharmaceuticals, estrogens, birth control, chickweed seed and bacteria are removed?

No guarantee can be made that 100% of bacterial pathogens have been removed from the water.  One fact is that the quality of water from the Drumheller treatment plant is treated to a higher standard than the water the Torrington residents currently have.

4.       Since most of Torrington are seniors on fixed incomes, will there be a program to help us afford this?

There is no plan in place to assist Torrington residents when the cost of water increases.  This is in keeping with County policy and to be consistent with what happened in Swalwell as well as when the County accepted ownership of the Churchill, Equity and Mt. Vernon Water Systems. 

The average monthly 2010 Torrington residential water consumption was 10.34 m3
Current monthly cost 10.34 m3 X $0.75 + $25.00 maintenance fee = $32.76
If increase monthly cost to $3.00 per m3 : 10.34 m3 X $3.00 + $25.00 maintenance fee = $56.02

Actual cash difference being $23.26 per month.

SUNNYSLOPE WATER SERVICE AREA QUESTIONS & ANSWERS – FEBRUARY 22, 2011 COUNCIL MEETING

These questions are a summary of the questions put forth by the Concerned Ratepayers of the Sunnyslope Water Service Area.

1.       The water risers and pipeline have been classified as a utility, if this is so, why is it deemed mandatory by the County that each landowner pay $6,000.00 for each riser?  Other utilities, i.e. power, gas, etc. are optional to the landowner.

The other utilities mentioned are for profit corporations. When development takes place in almost all urban municipalities, landowners have no option and must pay for and use water and sewer service.

2.       How did you decide where the risers are to be placed?  i.e. Old farm yards, old churches etc.

In consultation with the County, the landowner decides where they would like the riser.  When looking at inhabited area residences, churches, community halls receive a riser.  If there is an abandoned farm site there would not be a riser unless specifically requested by the landowner.

3.       The County of Paintearth and Stettler water service is optional.  Why is it not optional for Kneehill County residents?

Kneehill County started this process in 1997 with the PFRA studies and then in 1998 with becoming members of the then loosely affiliated Kneehill Regional Water Services Commission (KRWSC).  Telephone surveys were conducted in 2003 with the development of the 2004 Stantec Engineering plan.  Council decided in 2004/2005 that due to having majority support in all areas that did not currently have a water cooperative to proceed.  All options were reviewed and in 2005 Council decided to use the $6,000 mandatory fee instead of making it optional at a higher rate. 

4.       Why in 2005 at the open house in Sunnyslope does the map only show water lines going no further than 2 miles north?

The map used at the 2005 Sunnyslope Open House showed the Sunnyslope Water Service Area going north of SH 582 approximately 2.5 miles.  It also showed the Three Hills West Service Area, Phase 1, encompassing the western side of the County which encompassed Torrington.

5.       At what date did the boundaries change to 1-2 miles north of Highway 27?

After researching the boundary issue, we have discovered the new boundary area on maps created by EXH Engineering in May 2006.  This must have happened between December 2005 and May 2006 as EXH was hired in December 2005.  No formal written documentation was located as to why the change took place.

6.       When was there an open house for ratepayers in this area?

In 2005 there was a water meeting in Sunnyslope.  Other County open houses with regard to the water program occurred in 2004 in Swalwell, 2005 in Linden, 2006 and 2007 in Carbon, and 2010 in Acme.  All meetings were open to the public but did primarily focus on the community location of the meeting.  There have also been yearly ratepayer meetings, 1 or 2 per year, throughout the County where the water project has been discussed.  It has also been presented in printed fashion on the Ratepayer Newsletters which have been delivered twice yearly since 2007.

7.       When was there a feasibility study done to take the waterline north to Torrington and area?

Not positive of the year of the feasibility study for bringing better quality water for Torrington but the provincial government approved 90% funding in 2007.

8.       Why is the Torrington Hutterite Colony allowed to opt out of the wateline?  Should not all ratepayers get this option?

The Torrington Hutterite Colony did not opt out of the project.  That group has 14 quarter sections within the WSA.  At no time was their other approximately 26 quarter sections within the Sunnyslope WSA as the boundary running south of Torrington has remained constant.

9.       There are several legs of one plus miles of water service that is not wanted.  Can these legs be dropped?  If not, why?

The County policy states that if you are in a WSA that is being constructed you shall get a riser unless that leg is so expensive that Council deems that piece not to be feasible to service.  With the County’s current policies this is not at the discretion of the landowner.

10.   How can the County deem Phase 1 ,2, or 3 being for the collective good with only 20% of each phase being utilized?

The previous phases have not been operational very long. The Gamble phase has been open to water users since 2009.  The Grainger/Hesketh phase has been open to water users since 2010.  Kirkpatrick and Selkirk had construction just completed in late 2010.  Council’s original thoughts were that due to costs, timing and individuals existing wells the goal was a 25% hook up after 5 years of being able to hook-up.  Hook-ups have exceeded Council’s original expectations.

11.   We would like all the particulars on petitions -
a.  Is it 10% of the Phase 4 Water Service Area?
b.  Is it 10% of all the water area?
c.  Is it 10% of ratepayers of the County?

The Municipal Government Act explicitly covers all rules and legalities with regards to petitions.  If a petition is submitted to a municipality the CAO, in consultation with legal counsel, must deem if the petition is sufficient.