The Thomas Brook water users have moved one step closer to joining the city in order to resolve their ongoing water issues.
15 of 22 property owners responded favourably to a two question survey that asked the City of Revelstoke to provide more information surrounding the costs of being annesed by the city and hooking up to its water.
The next step would be a formal annexation request.
"When we get that information there would be a formal vote as to whether people want to join the city or not," said Ken Gibson, the organizer of the Thomas Brook water users.
The city has budgeted $40,000 for design work this year and $650,000 to extend the water system next year, but only if the Thomas Brook residents choose to join the city. The residents would be required to pay for the cost of the connection.
The Thomas Brook area is located just outside the city's southern boundary, adjacent to Revelstoke Mountain Resort. They have been facing water issues for several years now and have been placed on a boil water advisory by Interior Health. Last fall, one of the intake pipes was damaged, meaning some residents didn't have water for five days.
"It is an old fragile system and it's certainly not meeting Interior Health standards," said Gibson.
Of the 22 properties that would be subject to annexation, only seven are on the water system, while others are on wells and some are vacant lots, said Gibson.
"There's people who are affected by the boundary change who are on wells and really don't need to join the city," he said. "And there's the people on Thomas Brook who need to join the city because they have really limited options in terms of accessing water. The best solution for them is the city, and that gets Interior Health off their back."
The city has also broached the idea of extending the sewer line at the same time it extends the water.
A staff recommendation that was set to go to council on Tuesday asked for approval to conduct a preliminary study on the costs and concerns of annexing the Thomas Brook area, and to look for funding under the Provincial Infrastructure Grant Program to cover the cost of the study.
Interior Health has given the Thomas Brook water users until 2018 to resolve their issues.