Search for new water source in Rose Prairie continues

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The regional district is drilling for an alternative water source in Rose Prairie. 

During the September 18th meeting of the Peace River Regional District board of directors, a contract for water well drilling was extended at a cost of $61,000. 

The contract was awarded to Carbon Mountain Drilling, a water well drilling company in Fort St. John, and is an extension of a 2024 contract with a total value of $190,232.50. 

The Rose Prairie Water Station has been a concern for directors since 2021, when the Electoral Area Directors Committee recommended the station be closed due to “explosive levels of gas” that were detected within the facility in a March report. 

In September of the same year, the PRRD requested a report on possible treatment options for the station before the board began considering alternative water sources. 

Around that time, then Electoral Area B director Karen Goodings said the people of Rose Prairie had been “waiting for some time for a reliable source of clean drinking water.”

Since being awarded the 2024 contract, Carbon Mountain Drilling has drilled three exploratory wells in Rose Prairie to identify an “alternative water source.” 

The contract extension allows for the company to accommodate direction from the board to decommission the wells and drill a fourth. 

According to a staff report submitted to the board, the PRRD put aside $407,000 for upgrades, drilling and sampling at the Rose Prairie Water Station in 2025, originating from Peace River Agreement funds to Electoral Area B. 

Following approval of the directors, the contract was extended to June 30th, 2026. 

No information was provided on when exactly the work will be completed, however as of September 9th, the remaining balance of the funds is $123,671.18, meaning the increase in contract price is still covered by the original budget.