Kamloops, BC – December 21, 2023 – In the event of a potential prolonged outage, a permanent back-up source of power is now in place for the Blue River Community Water System.
The back-up generator installation was completed on November 16, 2023. During a power outage, the generator will be activated by an automatic transfer switch to fully power the water system, ensuring that well pumps remain operational and that water service can continue uninterrupted for customers.
Previously, during a power outage, a mobile generator needed to be transported to the Blue River Community Water System pumphouse site, which would result in emergency conservation measures being implemented for water system customers to avoid depletion of the water system’s reservoir.
The project was made possible by a donation from Trans Mountain through a Community Benefits Agreement. As part of this agreement, Trans Mountain donated a generator from its camp in Blue River, as that camp has now been decommissioned.
“Having a permanent back-up power source for our water system is a great improvement, it gives us peace of mind knowing that if there is a power outage we don’t have to wait for a mobile generator to be transported from Kamloops.” said Lee Onslow, Director of Electoral Area “B” (Thompson Headwaters). “We’re grateful for this donation from Trans Mountain to our community.”
“Trans Mountain continues to look for every opportunity to provide lasting and meaningful legacies for communities impacted by the construction of our Expansion Project,” said Deanne Carson, Vice President of Corporate Communications and External Relations, Trans Mountain. “We are proud to donate this generator to ensure there is a reliable back-up power source in the community.”
About TNRD Community Water Systems:
The TNRD owns and operates 11 Community Water Systems, all of which were constructed within communities and later acquired by the TNRD upon request. These small water systems range in size, from approximately 16 connections to approximately 300 connections. The TNRD adheres to a Water Conservation Plan for its water systems. To learn more about TNRD Community Water Systems, visit: tnrd.ca/watersystems.
Media Contact:
Jamie Vieira, General Manager of Operations
Thompson-Nicola Regional District
Tel.: 250 377-6288
Email: jvieira@tnrd.ca