In all his years serving on Cumberland council, Bronco Moncrief never thought the village would be unable to stand on its own two feet when it comes to water.

Now he finds himself worrying about the future of his great grandchildren.

鈥淚 never thought we鈥檇 be in a water hassle,鈥� Moncrief said at Monday鈥檚 council meeting.

His motion to join a regional water supply failed by a 3-2 vote. Mayor Fred Bates supports the concept, but Coun. Leslie Baird does not want to hand village assets over to the regional district without more information. Coun. Gwyn Sproule also has a difficult time handing over water licences and losing control over decisions at the district level.

Coun. Kate Greening does not have confidence in the district. She also opposes groundwater exploration.

Monday鈥檚 discussion stemmed from a regional water supply option dubbed R5, to be included in a final draft of the strategy. Among other things, it includes a deep-water intake to service Comox, Courtenay and Cumberland, and local water service areas supplied by Comox Lake and Royston.

It also calls for a raw water pump station and transmission main to the treatment plant, and a possible connection to the proposed Sage Hills development.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 great and it鈥檚 going to decrease costs,鈥� Moncrief said of a regional water supply.

The Regional Water Supply Strategy draft outlines a number of options that incorporate capital, operations and maintenance costs for a 50-year life-cycle. Cumberland鈥檚 costs range from $23.3 million to $62.5 million.

reporter@comoxvalleyrecord.com