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Why you may have to pay extra for water service in Bradford West Gwillimbury

BWG council also voted to defer a new water transmission main project from Innisfil to BWG until at least 2029.
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Bradford West Gwillimbury residents might have to pay for water and wastewater upgrades in other Simcoe County municipalities if the county takes over that sector, said BWG Mayor Rob Keffer.

“I almost hate to make this comment, but the county is doing a water and wastewater evaluation to see whether the upper tier would want to take over,” he said at a council meeting Tuesday.

“The deputy mayor and myself have expressed concern over that. We are quite happy with our staff and our ability to look after our own water and wastewater at reasonable rates compared to some other municipalities.

“I wouldn’t want to see our residents have to pay for upgrades in some of the northern municipalities that can’t afford to pay for their own.”

There is “a little bit of uncertainty” on the issue, but none for the town’s current water supply, he said.

BWG has “sufficient” existing water capacity from Innisfil to the town for the equivalent of 33,250 new residents, or a combination of residents and Highway 400 employment lands development, read a report by Mahesh Ramdeo, BWG’s manager of capital projects.

Based on the report’s recommendations, council voted to defer a new water transmission main project from Innisfil to BWG until at least 2029 due to a decrease in local water usage.

The project, which was expected to start construction this winter, was designed to expand the water distribution system to BWG due to the area’s projected population growth.

However, after reviewing the town’s past water usage, the demand for water to justify a new transmission main “does not exist today nor will it exist in the near future,” read the report. “The average per person water usage is lower today than in 2011.”

The report also noted the peak afternoon “water-demand” comes from the town’s reservoirs, meaning it reduces the need for a transmission main to service those peak times.

“Over the years, as appliances became more water efficient and consumers focused more on water-saving fixtures and appliances, there has been a steady decrease in the per-person water usage. … Given the proliferation of water saving devices, water conservation and metering, staff are confident that this trend to lower per-person water demand will continue.”

The water transmission main project would work by “twinning” the existing main supplied by the Innisfil Lakeshore Water Treatment Plant along Sideroad 20, County Road 3, County Road 4, and Line 12, according to the project’s website.

Currently, BWG’s water supply comes from groundwater from the town’s wells and surface water via Innisfil’s water treatment plant.

Since the town is deferring the new water transmission main project, Ramdeo cautioned maintenance of the existing links, wells and storage facilities will become “increasingly critical.”

“We’ve been spending an awful lot of money on infrastructure, so if we can save a little bit … that would be good for us,” Keffer said.


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Jenni Dunning

About the Author: Jenni Dunning

Jenni Dunning is a community editor and reporter who covers news in the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury.
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