BWG looks to Innisfil for more water

By Miriam King Bradford Times January 20 2011
The Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury is asking Innisfil for a loan… of water.
Bradford already receives about 50% of its potable water from Innisfil’s Lakeshore Water Treatment Plant, but is hoping to borrow another 3,600 cu. m. of water per day, on a temporary basis, until the next phase of the water treatment plant expansion is completed – helping bridge a shortfall for some developers.

The quantity of water is the equivalent of 1,800 new residential units, although Director of Engineering, Debbie Korolnek noted that “it would be up to Council’s discretion” to decide how many units would go to Residential and how many to Commercial/Industrial – if Innisfil agrees to the loan.
Councillor Ron Simpson suggested that 3,600 cu. m. per day could support more than 1,800 residential units, questioning the need to maintain double the capacity of water.
Korolnek explained that the capacity is based not on average use, but “maximum day use,” as required by the Province. “You have to have a temporary ability to provide more than your average day use… and for firefighting.”
Council voted to move forward with the request for additional capacity, and an update to the water supply agreement with Innisfil. The Town will also work on a new Comprehensive Joint Water Use Efficiency and Conservation Plan. But there may be a snag.
The new Innisfil Council is less receptive to water-sharing, although BWG up-fronted the capital cost of the last expansion of the Innisfil water treatment plant.
“Approximately half of our water is being used by BWG,” said Innisfil Councillor Lynn Dollin in a January 12 budget meeting. “Is Bradford paying half the cost? Are they going to see a 7.29% increase (in the 2011 water rates) as our own customers are?”
Jim Zimmerman, Director of Engineering Services, concurred that Bradford’s water use “has certainly significantly grown,” to 1.2 million cu. m. per year. The fees, currently about $715,000 per year, are “certainly under review,” Zimmerman said. “There is a discrepancy. It’s top of my to-do list – to bring further information to Council, and seek recommendations to make changes… to reflect a more fair rate for the Town of Innisfil.”