FAQ

All of the Voter Information Letters have been mailed and should be received by property owners by now. If you didn't receive yours, or if you know someone who hasn't gotten their letter yet, please contact Pamela Myra at 902-275-3631 or email election@chester.ca.

Yes, a majority vote is critical.

The service area will be divided into zones. When you cast your vote, you will be asked to identify in which area you are located. If the Municipality proceeds with installation, this information will determine if there are any "priority" areas and could have a role in which parts of the Village are serviced first. One key area that has been identified already is the "Village T", which is the Pleasant Street/Queen Street section.

Water lots without a structure, and properties owned by the Municipality, Village Commission, and Province.

Council will use the information from the poll to guide their decision. They want to be clear that the Village does/does not want water.

If results indicate no, nothing happens. The project does not proceed.  If results indicate yes, a pre-design is required. More information will be available. Grants from other levels of government will be available later.

We are using direct mail and online options. Contact Pam to get information on how to vote/get their letter.

The short answer is: Properties within the Village of Chester boundary.

The long answer is: There are a couple of options based on the water source. Depending on the source, certain properties outside the immediate boundary could be included in the service area. The Village of Chester boundary is included in all options, while the "add-on" properties depend on whether the source is groundwater or surface water.

To view the Village of Chester boundary map, click here.

Each suggested water system has a a different set of proposed service boundaries.

Groundwater supply: all properties within the Village of Chester boundary plus the possibility of including a corridor from Middle River to Chester (trail) and Chester Shore Mall.

Surface water supply: all properties within the Village of Chester boundary plus the possibility of including parts of Old Trunk 3 (Hwy #3 intersection to Bond Drive) and Chester Shore Mall.

The cost of fire protection is included in both estimates; however, the provision of these services has yet to be decided. As of right now, we have been including it in discussions.

The Municipality strongly urges residents to call their insurance brokers or providers and ask if there is a reduction in insurance premiums available. The information we have received so far has varied.

Yes.

Under normal circumstances, there shouldn't be a problem with pressure.

Once the Municipality assumes operation of a water supply, it is required, by law, to ensure the quality falls within the provincial public drinking water supply standards. We must test the supply regularly and perform strict maintenance on the equipment.

Yes, unless the Municipality imposes restrictions due to drought conditions, etc.

It is not factored in price of land so far.  With regards to the future, there has been no discussion.  Properties bought and paid for are through the general tax rate, and not toward the cost of the utility.  If we do not proceed, the properties will be discussed.

This issue was still being discussed in 1997, and beyond. Council was preparing for the future, if water was needed. 

A lot of the business district has water problems, but so do homes in the Village core and boundary.

There are 1100 taxable accounts. Once a water system is installed, regulations around lot size could change. As far as sewer, the entire proposed area is not serviced with sewer, only various areas.  That being said, we are looking at Wastewater Treatment Plant design and possible expansion.  Regardless of water, there is always the demand for wastewater.

Sites have been selected over time. The current design (preliminary) identifies lots near the lake to be used.  Middle River sites are not defined as the hydrogeological assessment did not point out a specific property.  The Municipality has land in that area, and we would use what we have.   

The driving force of this project is the reliable source of clean drinking water.

RECENTLY UPDATED TO ALLOW FOR INFLATION

Overall, the estimated cost* of a surface water system (Spectacle Lake) is $45,742,000. The estimated cost* of a groundwater system (Middle River) is $47,921,000. This estimate includes fire protection (hydrants, reservoir, etc.) to the service area. We initially used the more expensive estimate when quoting prices so there wouldn't be any surprises.

*results of a Class D estimate (-22.5% to +35%)

If we proceed, the Municipality will apply for phased funding from other levels of government, up to 75% based on current funding models. We don't know how much the Provincial or Federal Governments will approve until we submit a funding application.

The remainder of the capital costs will be paid for by property owners in the service area. One recommendation is payments over 25-years on property tax bills.

Costs additional to those are connection fees and usage fees.

If your property is within the service area, you are required to pay for the capital costs associated with constructing the system. You do not have to pay a connection fee or for usage if you are not connected.

To make a system affordable, all of the properties within the service area boundary are required to share the capital costs.

Based on best practices of other municipal units, unit costs are based on maintenance and operation costs divided by the amount of treated water consumed. That unit cost is applied to the amount of water used. Any formula used to apply a utility rate is pending approval of the Utility and Review Board. Based on average use, we have speculated a treatment cost of $207/year if a surface water system is installed, and $76/year if a groundwater system is constructed. Additional costs for distribution will depend on the system size and are unknown at this time.

No.

This will be included in regulations:  payment arrangements or disconnection.

Not at this point – it is a fixed amount per property.  The same cost per property is proposed, no matter the size.

That can be found in Table 6.2 of the CBCL report.

Currently they are being treated as one connection – one line from road to building.  The building owner would be billed.  Matt looks at cost three ways:  main, connection, and usage.  Larger users could have different type/size meter.

This hasn’t been discussed, but it could be a possibility.

We don’t know right now. If don’t have answers, we will find them. 

The estimates used in the calculations have factored in inflation. Contingencies are also included, which would help mitigate the unknowns. The estimates are also Class D, which could be 30% higher or 20% less.  If the design work proceeds, it will provide a more accurate estimate.

That amount was from a KVM report estimate. The reasons for the difference is 1) that the scope of work is not the same as it only included areas serviced by sewer; and 2) the figure used did not include HST. In 2016, the previous Councillor asked for an estimate on a water system, and staff took that number and escalated it to represent current pricing.

If Council wishes to proceed, $1.7 Million is required for the design. 

We used calculations from CBCL, but we believe that the interest rate when it comes time to borrow may be less than the CBCL report. They may have estimated higher.

We have only been provided a Class D. If it is decided to proceed, more design has to happen.  The A estimate is a tender estimate plus/minus 10%.  That would be used in the funding application.

Indirectly, we would charge the Centre for Education. The Province and municipalities currently fund centres for education.

Yes, Chandlers Cove is in the service area. 

The percentage funded is locked in for an ICIP application, but may not be 75% - it is 73% if we are successful.  If we can’t get the funding, we will be responsible for the balance.

No, that is provincial and federal.

Under the Municipal Government Act, municipalities have the power to spend money for a water supply. It would be council’s decision.

It is possible, but it was not factored in the numbers handed out.  That would be determined by Council.

No. The application for funding will only happen after a detailed design can be provided.  There is no guarantee that the application will be successful. 

Municipalities have the power to put money into a water system, but there is no direction to do so at this time. We have power, but we are not mandated [directed to by law].

You will not be forced to connect, but if you are within the service area, you are required to pay the capital costs for system installation. The connection fee is separate and averages $2,654. If we proceed, we have suggested a ten-year financing option for this, which would be $417/year.

No, you do not.

Absolutely! The design will include connections for all properties in the service area.

During construction, we will prepare for every property in the service area to be connected. Although we haven't decided on a definitive process as yet, it's expected that customers will complete an application.

If you connect to the system, it is likely that we will install a meter to measure water usage. At this point, it hasn't been determined whether owners are responsible for equipment or not.

Yes, if abandoned, the owner has to follow regulations and fill the well. The cost for doing that is not factored in the costs presented as that is the landowner’s responsibility.