HUDSON'S HOPE -- Hudson’s Hope is facing challenges finding a permanent clean water source for its residents.
The district is looking to build a new water treatment facility by 2025 at a cost of $5.3 million.
Mayor and council agreed that 'tough choices' will have to be made to fund the project that could include borrowing money through referendum, according to a press release.
Since July of 2023, there’s been a temporary plant in place following the construction of Site C, which saw water sourced from the Peace River changed to a groundwater well system.
The change caused the quality of water to significantly drop, with residents voicing concerns of discolouration, odour, and a taste to their water supply.
This led the district to issue a year-long boil water advisory, as it did not meet Northern Health’s requirements for safe drinking water.
The temporary plant purifies water from the Peace River through a series of above ground waterlines that transports raw water to a clarification system.
To rent and maintain the current system is costing taxpayers in the range of $27,000 to $75,000 monthly and the investment in a new facility will lead to future cost savings, according to the district.
Hudson’s Hope is warning residents that the temporary plant is vulnerable to interruptions that could lead to more water advisories in the future.
