The Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) relaunches its public consultation today on the long-term plan for the Comox Valley Sewer Service, which moves and treats raw sewage (wastewater) from Comox, Courtenay and K’ómoks First Nation.
This stage of the process is looking at conveyance options – the pipes and pump stations that collect and move wastewater to the treatment plant. This system currently includes a raw sewage (wastewater) pipe located along Balmoral Beach (Willemar Bluffs) that is vulnerable to damage by waves, rocks and logs – and poses an environmental risk beaches and waters throughout the Comox Estuary, Point Holmes and Goose Spit coastline, as well as Baynes Sound.
Three possible routes are under consideration that will allow the decommissioning of the exposed sewer pipe. Costs for implementation of any of these options will be significant for Courtenay and Comox taxpayers - ranging from $160 to $240 per year, per household. All potential routes will pass along Comox (Dyke) Road and through downtown Comox and the Lazo Hill area, which means an added burden of construction impacts for those moving through and living in these areas. Construction is currently estimated to begin in 2022 and last two years.
After a postponement in March due to COVID-19, the public can once again ‘Pipe Up’ and weigh in on the cost of the proposed upgrades, potential construction impacts and environmental protection considerations for each route option.
“There is a lot on people’s minds right now, while it’s hard to add sewer to this list– we are at a critical stage to discuss how the options under consideration will impact residents,” said David Frisch, Chair of the Sewage Commission. “The risk at Willemar Bluffs only increases as time passes and we need to hear from the community so that we can move with the right solution.”
There are three ways the community can review the options and provide comment:
Online Survey
Visit www.connectcvrd.ca/lwmp to review the proposed routes and provide your input from September 14 to October 13, 2020.
Online Webinar
Register at www.connectcvrd.ca/lwmp.
- Wednesday, September 30, 12-1 PM.
- This virtual session will be hosted by the project team on Zoom.
In Person Open House
Please note that public health safety protocols will be in place, including mandatory face masks. Pre-registration is encouraged as drop-in space will be limited due to capacity restrictions. Reserve your spot at www.connectcvrd.ca/lwmp
- Thursday, October 1, 12-2 PM, Comox Recreation Centre, 1855 Noel Avenue, Comox
- Wednesday, October 7, 12-2 PM, Comox Recreation Centre, 1855 Noel Avenue, Comox
- Thursday, October 8, 4-6 PM, CVRD Civic Room, 770 Harmston Avenue, Courtenay
“We expect residents will have questions about traffic, noise and other construction impacts,” said Kris La Rose, Senior Manager of Water/Wastewater Services. “Community input is key to gaining public support for a plan that will ensure our sewer system continues to serve us in the long-term.”
The Liquid Waste Management Plan process for the Comox Valley Sewer Service began in the summer of 2018. A long list of options, including six potential routes for conveyance and four treatment and resource recovery options were brought to the public for comment in 2019. The list of conveyance options was reduced to a shortlist of three in March 2020. However, consultation on the shortlist was put on hold due to COVID-19. The consultation was relaunched on September 14, and results will be reported back to the Sewage Commission at its meeting in November 2020. A preferred option for Conveyance, Treatment and Resource Recovery will be chosen by the Sewage Commission and shared with the community in 2021.
For more information about the Liquid Waste Management Plan process, visit the project webpage at www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/lwmp.
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 contact:
Mary Lee
Project Engagement Specialist
Tel: 250-898-3726