Denver Siding Water System  

Size and number of connections

The system services 21 active connections.

Location

The system is located on Denver Siding Road, northeast of the village of New Denver. New Denver is within RDCK Electoral Area H.  

Source

The Denver Siding water system derives source water from Esthwaite Spring, Lloyd Spring, and Aylard Creek. Intakes on all three sources are relatively susceptible to rock slides and sediment intrusion. The supply area is designated as a Community Watershed.

System Description

Insufficient information exists regarding when this system was first developed; however, some system components were replaced in 1973. The system was converted to an RDCK service in 1993.

Treatment

At present, the Denver Siding water system has no filtration or disinfection capabilities. A settling basin, which removes some solids from the water, provides a certain level of pre-treatment. Since the system’s source is surface water, treatment is required to bring the system into compliance with provincial guidelines and to remove the permanent Boil Water Advisory.

Storage

The system includes a 136,000 litre dual chamber concrete reservoir that was hand-poured by volunteers in 1973. The capacity of the tank meets existing water demands in the area.

Distribution

The system includes 2.1 kilometres of asbestos-concrete and PVC mainlines. Reports suggest that this infrastructure may be nearing the end of its life expectancy.

Fire Fighting

Existing fire-fighting infrastructure includes three hydrants and one standpipe. The storage capacity of the system, however, is inadequate to provide reliable fire suppression.

Significant Issues

The sources that feed the Denver Siding water system are subject to fecal contamination from wildlife and the reliability of flow from these sources may become an issue with expected changes in regional climate patterns. Further, some aspects of the system are in a state of general disrepair. As a result of these issues, a feasibility study regarding the connection of the Denver Siding area to the village of New Denver’s water system is currently underway. If economically feasible, the amalgamation could greatly improve the availability of reliable drinking water to Denver Siding residents.

Plans for Future Upgrades

In order to proceed with the amalgamation with the New Denver system, the Denver Siding distribution network would need to undergo the following upgrades:

• installation of 0.5 kilometres of main line
• installation of a pump house to link the two systems
• installation of backflow prevention valve
• upgrade of reservoir

Governance

This system is currently owned and operated by the RDCK.

Photo: Main Extension