Your 2026 Notice of Tax Levy will display a levy called Asset Renewal, and another called Special Assessment.
The Asset Renewal Levy is included in your Tax Notice every year, and is subject to change.
Asset Renewal is collected to increase SSID’s reserves. At present, the amount in reserves is not enough to maintain the waterworks infrastructure as the parts age and need replacement.
The Special Assessment is being collected for 15 years, after which it will be complete. Its purpose is to collect enough funds to pay for a new upper system tank and all related infrastructure by the year 2040.
SSID’s infrastructure is more than 50 years old. It is comprised of 16,000 feet (4,900 metres) of pipes, 2 wells, 2 pumps, 2 generators, 2 reservoirs totalling 50,000 imperial gallons of water, 5 outbuildings and a steel tower, 2 pump meters and 167 household meters, 13 hydrants, 13 hose cabinets, 4 pipe-end blowoffs, 17 gate valves and 3 air release valves. In 2019 and 2020, we replaced 10 old water meters, with funding from the reserves. In 2020, we replaced 1 of our 2 diesel generators. In 2022 and 2024, we replaced another 4 hydrants. In 2024, we replaced the 3 air release valves.
Over time, the infrastructure will cost about $7 million to replace. Most of that is in pipes at about $5 million, which fortunately are expected to last for another 60 years, although the pipe connectors and tees may have shorter service lives.
The reserves may also be used for unforeseen events, as in 2009, when $100,000 was used to fix the broken 40,000-gallon water tank, and for protective measures, as in 2012 when SSID bought a backup generator, well, and pump.
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