Burton Water System

Size and number of connections

The system services 70 active connections. An estimated 130 residents are served by the Burton water system.

Location

The system is located in the community of Burton, within RDCK Electoral Area K. Burton is on the east side of Lower Arrow Lake. The system does not serve the Cariboo Creek Estates area of Burton.

Source 

The Burton water system derives source water from two wells located off  McCormick Road west of Hwy 6. Both of these wells are 35 metres deep and were drilled in 1998.

System description

The system was constructed in 1966 as part of a compensation program associated with the construction of the Keenlyside Dam. It includes a SCADA system, which allows for remote system operation and monitoring.

Treatment

Since the source for this system is an aquifer that is not directly influenced by surface water, disinfection is not required. Monitoring processes have also indicated that turbidity is consistently below 1.0 NTU, which is within recommended turbidity levels under the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality.

Storage

The system includes a 102,000 litre insulated bolted steel storage tank.

Distribution system

The system includes 5,024 metres of PVC, steel, and asbestos-concrete mainlines, as well as 1,290 metres of copper service connection lines. A 2005 report estimated that the asbestos-cement pipe network will remain viable until at least 2033.

Fire-fighting

Due to the limited capacity of the system’s storage tank, no capacity for rural fire-fighting services is provided.

Significant issues

A 2009 assessment of the Burton water system recommended that a wellhead protection plan be developed in order to ensure the long-term safety of the water source. Although the long-term sustainable yield of the wells far exceeds current water demands, growth of the Burton community may necessitate replacement of certain system components, especially well pumps, in the future.

Plans for future upgrades

The Burton Water system benefited from a number of upgrades prior to being converted to an RDCK service. No significant capital works are planned for the immediate future

Governance

In January 2011, ownership and operation of the Burton water system transferred to the RDCK. This system was historically owned and operated by the Burton Water Corporation, a subsidiary company of BC Hydro.