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Fern Ridge Water System
Fern Ridge Water System is a small water system located east of Shawnigan Lake village in area A. The system provides water to 34 residential properties.
Source, Treatment and Distribution
Water is pumped from a groundwater well to the treatment building where it receives chlorine disinfection. The water is then sent to the 200 m3 reservoir and pumped into the distribution system as required by the customers.
Critical equipment is monitored 24-hours a day for malfunctions, such as high or low chlorine levels or pump failures, and if such an abnormality occurs an alarm is sent to the on-duty pager to alert CVRD staff for immediate response.
Water Quality Testing
Fern Ridge water system is sampled, at a minimum, once a week. The following table shows the sampling frequency and parameters tested for the water system:
| Frequency | Parameter Tested | Laboratory |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly | Bacterial (E.Coli and Total Coliforms) | Samples are submitted to the Island Health Authority for testing by a provincial laboratory |
| Annual | Full spectrum analysis based on the Canadian Drinking Water Guidelines. Sampling of the source and tap water is alternated each year. | AGAT Laboratories |
Testing results can be found in the Annual Water Report completed each year.
Fee Structure
Fern Ridge water system is a fully metered water system meaning each connection has a water meter that records water consumption. Water meters are read every six months and customers are charged according to their consumption and based on the rates set out in the inclined block rate table blow.
Annual Charges
| Billing Period | Meter Reading Date | User Fees* minimum payment (up to 250m3) | Parcel Tax** approx | Minimum Annual Fee (User Fee and Parcel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 15-March 14 | March 15 | $252.50 | $617.00 | $1122.00 |
| March 15-September 14 | September 15 | $252.50 |
*User Fees are mailed out to each customers on the billing date stated above.
**Parcel Tax is charged once a year and is incorporated into the property tax for each customer.
Inclined Block Rate Table
| User Fees | |
|---|---|
| Water Use (per billing period) | Charge |
| 0-250 m3 | $252.50 |
| 251-300 m3 | $252.50 + $1.10 per m3 over 250m3 |
| 301-400 m3 | $307.50 + $1.65 per m3 over 300m3 |
| over 400 m3 | $472.50 + $2.48 per m3 over 400m3 |
High Consumption Due to Undetected Leaks
User charges may be adjusted where an undetected leak on your property has resulted in water consumption greatly exceeding your normal consumption (for the billing period) and there is no indication that water was knowingly allowed to run to waste. A minimum of 15 years must have passed before a subsequent forgiveness request will be granted. Subsequent leaks occurring within 15 years of the previous forgiveness approval will be eligible for a cap of $1500.00. Written verification describing the nature of the leak and the action taken to repair the problem must be received by the Manager before the forgiveness will be granted.