By Joel van der Veen

CRAIK — The next step in restoring Craik’s drinking water will be up to voters.

Town council is seeking residents’ permission to direct the insurance payout from the Eco-Centre fire — estimated at roughly $380,000 — towards the Water Fund.

The referendum question will be on the ballot presented to voters in the Oct. 26 municipal election, when they will also select a mayor and six councillors.

The question reads as follows: “Do you agree with crediting the net insurance payment from the loss of the Eco-Centre to the Water Fund?”

A “yes” answer means work will begin immediately on a plan developed by the town and KGS Group, an engineering firm based in Regina, while a “no” answer means the town will return to the drawing board to look at other funding options.

Bringing drinking water back to Craik has been the top priority for the current council, said Coun. David Ashdown.

A positive response to the referendum question “should bring us to potable water by this time next year,” he told the Leader on Thursday.

A written update was distributed by the town to local residents late last week.

Craik has been under a boil water advisory since August 17, 2010, for “failing to meet minimum disinfection levels (ozone),” according to the Water Security Agency (WSA).

The town has had ongoing problems with a water plant completed in 2009 by Mainstream Water Solutions, a Regina company which has since gone into bankruptcy.

Progress has been made recently towards restoring Craik’s drinking water, in co-operation between the town council, the WSA and a local water task force (since disbanded).

Last year, the town engaged with KGS, citing their expertise in working with rural communities. The company recently worked with the Town of Radville, which has a Mainstream water plant similar to Craik’s, to restore drinking water there.

For the full story, see the Oct. 10 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.