The Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) is alerting Comox Valley water system users that it will be moving to its backup pump station from March 18 to 29, 2019 while BC Hydro completes its annual spring maintenance on the penstock. The backup station is located further downstream than the primary withdrawal location and is more susceptible to poor water quality during weather events which commonly occur this time of year.
During these periods of maintenance, CVRD staff work closely with BC Hydro to minimize the impact on the Comox Valley water system. The CVRD will be monitoring the situation very closely and the community will be alerted should turbidity reach unacceptable levels and a boil water notice is required. High turbidity can interfere with the chlorination process used to disinfect the drinking water for the 45,000 residents served by the Comox Valley water system.
To register for text message or voice mail notifications about boil water notices and other emergency notifications visit: www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/getnotified. Remember to choose both the community in which you live and the Comox Valley Water Supply System (boil water) notification lists. No access to a computer? You can also register by calling 250-334-6057.
Procurement is in the final stages for a new water treatment system that will begin construction later this year and be fully operational by 2021. Once completed, the risk of turbidity related boil water notices will be eliminated in our community. The new system will also draw water directly from Comox Lake, upstream of the BC Hydro Penstock, avoiding any potential service disruptions during maintenance of Hydro infrastructure. For more information about this project visit www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/watertreatment.
The Comox Valley Regional District is a federation of three electoral areas and three municipalities providing sustainable services for residents and visitors to the area. The members of the regional district work collaboratively on services for the benefit of the diverse urban and rural areas of the Comox Valley.
Media Contacts:
Media questions about the Comox Valley water system:
Kristian La Rose
Senior Manager of Water and Wastewater Services
Comox Valley Regional District
Tel: 250-334-6083
klarose@comoxvalleyrd.ca
Media questions about BC Hydro maintenance:
Stephen Watson
Stakeholder Engagement Advisor
BC Hydro
Tel: 250-755-4795
steve.watson@bchydro.com