FAQ

The overall goal of the Council of the County of Stettler is to provide a safe assured supply of drinking water to all landowners in the County. To achieve this goal the County has developed an overall strategy and master plan for developing rural water distribution systems. This strategy:

• Sets out how the system might be extended to all areas of the County
• Identifies the possible costs and manner in which the projects would be funded
• Provides for the policy principles upon which the service would be offered to potential customers

A conceptual plan to bring water service to current developed sites in the County is set out in the enclosed County map. However, water supply conditions vary within the County and ultimately it may not be necessary to provide potable water to all areas of the County. As well, the ability to develop a water distribution system in any area of the County is dependent on the availability of water supply from a major regional supply system in that area and the availability of funds.

The recently completed Shirley McClellan Regional Water Services Commission main line east along Highway 12 and the Starland-Stettler Regional Water Services Commission line to Endiang and Byemoor will be the first phase targeted to begin construction in the fall of 2009. In time, it is expected that regional supply systems will be extended elsewhere in the County to allow distribution systems to be constructed in all areas of the County.

Under this overall funding approach, continued extension of the water system would be only undertaken as funds can be generated and grants become available. It may take several years to fully develop the system.

Participation in the system will be Voluntary and the County will offer, over time, to develop and operate water distribution systems to serve those customers who wish to subscribe to the system. The timing, extent and configuration of these individual projects will be dependent on the number of customers that are interested in receiving water service, their respective locations, the availability of the regional water supply and the availability of funds.

These systems would be designed to provide some future connection but it is not guaranteed if capacity is already used up. Landowners wishing to ensure the ability to connect in the future will want to complete the expression of interest form now. You would be required to pay the initial connection fee once the system is brought to your area, and would not be assessed operating charges until such time as connection is made.

There are two types of water service levels that would be offered in the County:

1. Constant Flow Service - which would provide an ongoing flow of water of 1.0 imperial gallon per minute (1,500 gallons per day) at about 30 psi pressure. This service level would be offered in the rural areas of the County where sites are widely spaced and customer density is low.
2. Pressure Service - which would provide water at a pressure and quantity typical of urban style distribution systems. Theses systems may or may not provide sufficient capacity for fire fighting purposes and would be offered in the hamlets, in the Buffalo Lake South Shore area and in other subdivisions where the density of customers can justify these more expensive systems.

Yes, for an additional cost. The need must be indicated prior to designing the system. Providing higher volumes after the system is constructed may be more difficult and expensive.

Yes. In addition to the service connections to individual properties, the rural distribution systems will also include bulk water truck fill facilities in the various areas of the County and the placement of water storage reservoirs for fire fighting needs.

Fire protection will be provided by existing and proposed water storage reservoirs located throughout the County. These are identified on the enclosed System Phases map.

A water service connection will be provided to a site on a parcel of land at the request of the owner of the site. The transfer point of responsibility from the distribution system to the site will be a “riser” or meter chamber which would be located either at the property line or, if the property line is beyond 500 feet from the site, then at a mutually determined location in the yard area of the site.

With a constant flow of about 1 gallon per minute and a pressure of about 30 lbs, the customer will have to determine and install what additional storage, pumping equipment and piping will be needed to distribute water to the locations and facilities within the site based on their specific water consumption needs and circumstances. A storage tank or cistern may be required. Organizations involved with rural water systems such as Agriculture Canada (PFRA) have suggested storage capacity should be upwards 5 days of typical water usage.

The customer will be responsible for these costs and while there have been government grant programs that have helped farm sites with water supply costs in the past, there is no known grant program at this time, though government programs change from year to year.

The connection fee for basic service will be $10,000 at the time the system is being constructed. Connections made after initial construction would cost $15,000. These connections fees will be the same throughout the county and will remain in effect at these amounts up to and including the year 2019. Connection fees for enhanced level of service will be determined on a case by case basis.

No. Each customer will have the option of paying the full connection fee at the outset or may choose to pay the connection fee in yearly installments over 15 years at the interest rates at which the County is able to borrow. This 15 year obligation can be paid out early without penalty.

The County seeks to set rates and fees that are affordable for users, encourage connection to the system and allow reasonable use of water from the system. Rates and charges will be the same across all areas of the County for a similar level of service. The current flat rate for fixed service is set at $20 per month with an anticipated consumption rate of $1.90 per cubic meter (220 gallons/day).

A typical residence with a family of four using water for household uses consumes about 25 cubic meters (m3) or 5,500 gallons per month. The financial implications would be:

Initial Connection Fee

At time of Construction of the system

• up front cost of $10,000, or
• 15 yearly payments of $903 or $75.27 per month. (based on current 4.167%)

To further explain the strategy, and answer your questions, the County will be hosting public information sessions at:

Email at info@stettlercounty.ca
Website: www.stettlercountywater.com
Contact Tim Fox, CAO County of Stettler 403-742-4441