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1. Why did the City buy the water system?

In 2013, city staff and council began this consideration. The City developed a business case, heard from members of the community, and held a public meeting in June 2015 where residents expressed significant support for the idea of an acquisition.

As a result of that process, the City of White Rock signed a negotiated agreement with the private company to acquire the water utility from them. The City took ownership of the operations on October 30, 2015.

This was an important milestone for the community, as it means all utility fees are now reinvested directly into the community. Furthermore, the City also has direct control of the water system, which allows the City to accommodate growth and make upgrades to the existing infrastructure as required.

2. How much the water system cost?

The City of White Rock purchased the water utility from EPCOR for $13.4 million. Originally, the city had paid a $14 million advanced payment, which was an approximation based on the service provided at that time. After 2 years of negotiations, the City of White Rock and EPCOR came to an agreement on the $13.4 million.