Opposition is mounting to the Capital Regional DistrictB次元官网网址檚 proposed $2 billion water infrastructure plan, with a new report saying it will B次元官网网址渆xposeB次元官网网址� residents to soaring water charges due to B次元官网网址渆xpected cost overruns.B次元官网网址�

Colwood Coun. Ian Ward has been outspoken about the CRD not proving its case that water usage rates are increasing.

B次元官网网址淭his plan operates on the assumption that water usage will increase at a linear rate with regional growth,B次元官网网址� Ward told Black Press Media previously.

Now a coalition of groups has released a new study by engineer Jonathan Huggett saying the same thing. The report was commissioned by four housing industry associations.

Huggett said in a news release that the CRDB次元官网网址檚 Regional Water Supply Master Plan is missing technical and financial due diligence, and will be B次元官网网址渆xposing residents to a potential 500%+ increase in water charges with expected cost overruns and adding thousands of dollars to the price of every new home.B次元官网网址�

Huggett says the CRD is proposing a $2 billion upgrade to the water supply system, including a $1 billion filtration plant based on flawed projections and other questionable data. He advises that the plan fails to implement sound fiscal management practices and does not address soaring capital costs, particularly since the pandemic, risking significant project cost overruns.

B次元官网网址淢y report outlines a wide range of concerns, including flawed water demand and population projections, inadequate watershed management and water quality data, and poor financial risk management strategies,B次元官网网址� said Huggett, in a statement.

The groups behind the report are the Urban Development Institute - Capital Region, Victoria Residential Builders Association, West Shore Developers Association and Sooke Builders Association. The report says these four groups are B次元官网网址渁larmedB次元官网网址� by the CRDB次元官网网址檚 plan.

B次元官网网址淭he plan will add additional Development Cost Charges of $9,044 per new single-family home, and $7,914 for each B次元官网网址榤issing-middle housingB次元官网网址� townhouse and duplex,B次元官网网址� said a news release. B次元官网网址淔or a 50-unit multi-family building, these new charges alone would add over $250,000 to the build.B次元官网网址�

But the CRD disagrees about the plan having such a dramatic impact on DCCs.

B次元官网网址淭he CRD does not expect the recent bill to affect the DCC rates in the short-term; however the DCC program is scheduled to be reviewed every five years and will include a review of the growth projections, the CRD said in a recent statement to Black Press Media.

The CRD said that demand for water will be increasing as communities grow.

B次元官网网址淲ithout investments in the water system to meet the demand caused by growth, the demand for water will eventually exceed supply,B次元官网网址� said the CRD statement. B次元官网网址淭he CRD is proactively planning to be prepared to meet the regionB次元官网网址檚 long-term water supply needs. Water rates, grants and DCCs are the primary tools available to the Regional Water Supply Service to fund new projects. As the Regional Water Supply Service provides a substantial benefit to both existing developments and new users, many of its capital projects are eligible for inclusion in a DCC program under the Local Government Act (LGA).

B次元官网网址淭he LGA provides DCCs as a tool in recognition that there is an inherent responsibility on developers to pay their fair share of the infrastructure costs required to service their developments. This is referenced in the DCC Best Practices Guide as the B次元官网网址楤enefiter PaysB次元官网网址� principle whereby B次元官网网址業nfrastructure costs should be paid by those who will use and benefit from the installation of such systems.B次元官网网址� DCCs as a cost-sharing tool are important to equitably apportion the benefit and costs of infrastructure in a transparent and fair manner that does not place a significant cost burden on water rate payers. By not having DCCs in place for the Regional Water Supply Service the infrastructure costs necessary to support new growth must be paid for by CRD residents through higher water bills.B次元官网网址�

The reportB次元官网网址檚 claims are backed by retired Metchosin mayor John Ranns, who was also a CRD director and would not have voted in favour of this if he was still on the board. ()

B次元官网网址淎ny master plan is a broad look into the future and is never intended to be implemented as presented on day one, Ranns said, in a statement. B次元官网网址淭his plan contains a number of practical future projects, but the filtration plant option makes no sense whatsoever. Our gravity-fed water supply system is the envy of North America and eliminating it to accommodate unneeded filtration will add huge operational costs and complexities. If this proceeds, the only winners will be the engineering companies and the losers, as usual, will be our beleaguered residents.B次元官网网址�

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The CRD is also disputing that it hasnB次元官网网址檛 done its due diligence when it comes to the cost estimate for the water plan.

B次元官网网址淭he 2022 Master Plan recommends 21 major projects be implemented over the next 30 years that are deemed critical to improve the resiliency of the Regional Water Supply Treatment and Transmission System and will be necessary in the longer term to provide enough drinking water to support the growing region,B次元官网网址� said a CRD statement.

B次元官网网址淐ost estimates were completed by subject matter experts using Class D (concept level) cost estimates and included allowances for contingencies and inflation. In total, the recommended projects are valued at $1.53 billion in 2022 dollars and $2.05 billion in inflated dollars to 2050 to account for future design and construction costs. The treatment and design requirements will be further refined based on pilot studies and further fieldwork. After the refinement of the design in the preliminary design phase, cost estimates will be updated.B次元官网网址�

READ MORE: CRD water project under fire from Colwood council for cost, B次元官网网址榝lawedB次元官网网址� process