Delta residents and cottage owners could soon have access to rural water lines. The RM of Portage la Prairie's put out a request for quotes on rural water line expansion to the area. Reeve Kam Blight notes while they had initially intended to create a single filling station attached to the line, after seeing the cost they've now decided to simply expand the water lines to the individual properties.

"Some of the tenders came in a little bit lower than we thought they were going to. We realized we had a little extra money to work with, and we've decided to offer it out to the residents of Delta, both permanent and seasonal residents, to see if they'd be interested in getting water run to their properties."

He notes the project funding comes from the Canada 150 funding announced last year under the previous Conservative government. About 80 property owners have already declared interest in having access to the lines, and Blight says they want to begin the project as soon as possible.

Blight says he never could have imagined seeing a full rural water line expansion into Delta, but he's excited now that it's moving forward.

"I just think it makes Delta that much more attractive to people to invest in their properties. It's a huge step in the right direction and we're very, very excited. To be honest, when I first came on council we never thought this would be happening. We're thankful the government of the past, the federal government approved our application for funding, and it's allowed us to proceed with this. We feel very fortunate."

Blight says they intend to have shovels in the ground this summer. However, the number of properties to be connected this year has yet to be determined.