The Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) has asked Trent Lakes for $221,191 to maintain two water systems in the municipality.
Nathalie Baker, OCWA Business Development Manager made a presentation to council this week outlining their capital expenditure request for 2024.
The two water treatment plants are in Alpine Village/Pirates Glen and Buckhorn Lake Estates and they serve approximately 318 homes. Both systems are paid for by the residents that use them and not by the other taxpayers.
The request for Alpine Village/Pirates Glen is for $88,910 for:
• well cleaning and inspection
• chemical pump spare parts
• cartridge filters
• clearwell cleaning and inspection
• watermain flushing and leak detection
• singer valve maintenance
• distribution leak repair
• dehumidifier replacement
• unplanned equipment repair and replacement
The $121,281 request for Buckhorn Lake Estates is for:
• well cleaning and inspections
• clearwell cleaning and inspection
• chemical pump spare parts
• singer valve maintenance
• wastewater tank pump out
• well pump VFD
• backwash disposal system replacement
• distribution leak repair allowance
• unplanned equipment repair and replacement
• watermain flushing
Later in the meeting CAO/Treasurer Donna Teggart asked council to approve a motion to increase the water rates for residents of the two areas. She asked for a $75 increase for 188 users in Buckhorn Lake Estates and a $50 increase for 200 users in Alpine Village/Pirates Glen.
This represents a 25 percent increase ($1,945 to $2,020) in Buckhorn Estates and a 3.32 percent increase in Alpine Village/Pirates Glen.
Teggart told council that the Buckhorn Lake Estates water system has a total reserve deficit of $78,459.66. This included a deficit from 2024 of $56,253.32 which was due to several significant water service failures.
She said OCWA had recommended a two percent increase annually to eliminate that deficit by 2031 but she proposed a 3.85 percent increase ($75) to eliminate this deficit sooner.
The Alpine/Pirates Glen system had a deficit of $23,713,64 in 2024 which was also because of water service failures. That system has a reserve balance of $246,627.40. Teggart recommended increasing the rate by $50 annually.
Council approved OCWA’s capital requests and increasing the rates by the amounts staff recommended.
