Campbell Creek residents will get membrane-treated water next year.

City council approved a borrowing bylaw Tuesday that puts in motion the process to proceed with the $3.454-million project.

The project will hook up the easternmost part of Kamloops — currently 150 or so households but eventually about double that — to the River Street water system.

Council approved the borrowing of $3.214 million, with the remainder to come from reserves.

Now the alternative approval process kicks into effect, which allows residents opposed to the City borrowing the money to petition against the move.

If 10 per cent of eligible voters (6,732) don’t sign against the borrowing, the bylaw — and the project — go ahead.

City assistant finance director Doug Stewart said the original estimate for the project was $3.063 million. That figure was based on the pre-design, and more detailed information plus some construction cost increases, have pushed it up by another half a million.

Campbell Creek residents have been drawing on City water wells for years. As a result of using the hard water, they have had problems with dishwashers and clothing washers, showerheads and other plumbing equipment.

Coun. Nelly Dever said she has heard a lot of frustration from people in Campbell Creek about the damage the well water has caused.

With council’s unanimous approval Tuesday, the project will move through the borrowing process by January. The project will go out to tender at that time, with the contract expected to be awarded in February and construction completed by December 2013.