Developers will be responsible for covering the costs of bringing piped water to the Centre Mountain Business Park, but in the interim will need to use wells to pull water from the aquifer.
In January 2019 the City of Langford granted the owners of the future business park B次元官网网址� planned for as-yet undeveloped land south of Highway 14 and west of Happy Valley Road B次元官网网址� a variance permit to access water from the local aquifer.
However, that deal limits the number of businesses that can pull water from the aquifer and is contingent on the requirement that businesses stop doing so once piped municipal water is connected.
The timing for the municipal water connection is determined by the developers themselves, according to Ted Robbins, general manager of integrated water services for the Capital Regional District.
The CRD determines what infrastructure is needed, but doesnB次元官网网址檛 physically build it, he said, noting those costs must be paid by whomever develops the land.
B次元官网网址淭he developers really drive the schedule,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ut our expectation remains that the entire development would be serviced by the CRD water system.B次元官网网址�
Robbins said the development will likely require a water pump station, its own reservoir and the pipes to connect the area to CRDB次元官网网址檚 system.
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Mike Hicks, the Juan de Fuca Electoral Area director, said he worries thereB次元官网网址檚 not enough information about the condition of the aquifer, and allowing new developments to pull water from it could drain the water source.
Seamus Brennan, project manager with Keycorp, the company working on selling the land to industrial developers, says they are working with the CRD on designs to introduce water service to the area, but said thereB次元官网网址檚 various infrastructure pieces involved.
B次元官网网址淚f we need to, we will go into an aquifer and use a well,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ut as that permit says, itB次元官网网址檚 just on a temporary basis. WeB次元官网网址檙e aware of the concerns of the neighbours and weB次元官网网址檙e working with the powers that be B次元官网网址� being the province B次元官网网址� in anything we do as we move forward.B次元官网网址�
Keycorp is working with the CRD to bring the water to the site as soon as it can, he added. B次元官网网址淣obody wants to have water there more than we do. Believe me.B次元官网网址�
Brennan said it was too early to give a timeline for having water service introduced in the area, as Keycorp is still focused on lining up developers to buy lots.
Robbins also couldnB次元官网网址檛 comment on a timeline, but expects the site will see lots of construction activity in the coming years.
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