Comox Valley Sewer Service Liquid Waste Management Plan

About the Comox Valley Sewer Service Liquid Waste Management Plan

The Comox Valley Sewer Service treats raw sewage (wastewater) from homes and businesses in Courtenay, Comox and K’ómoks First Nation. More than 14,000 cubic metres of wastewater from these communities flows daily through a pipe located along the Willemar Bluffs. This is an exposed section of beach 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.

Preferred options for treatment and resource recovery selected

The Sewage Commission has approved the preferred options for treatment and resource recovery for the Comox Valley Sewer Service’s Liquid Waste Management Plan. Directors have approved Option 2 for treatment, which would see the addition of Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection and secondary treatment for all flows.

This was the recommended option by the PAC/TAC based on their technical review and consideration of public feedback. Read the staff report for more details about this decision and review all of the information that was considered to arrive at the solution.

• The sewage commission has also agreed that reclaimed water use should be considered as part of the master planning process for the sewage treatment plant. 
• The preferred option for conveyance (pipes and pump stations) will be selected in coming months.
• The CVRD will report back to the public on the full suite of LWMP decisions once completed.

Next Steps

The sewage commission will consider the PAC/TAC recommendations for the shortlist of conveyance options in the next few months. Once a decision has been made the CVRD will report back to the community about the LWMP planning process, outcomes, and how public input was considered throughout the process.

It is likely that an Alternative Approval Process (AAP) will be held early in 2021 to approve borrowing  for the conveyance portion of the project so that work can begin as soon as possible to relocate the at risk pipe at the Willemar Bluffs. Concurrently, the project team will begin working on a final draft Liquid Waste Management Plan that will be submitted to the Ministry of Environment.

For more detailed information about the LWMP project, including questions about costs, construction impacts and hydrogeological assessments for the options under consideration, please click the link below.

Help Shape the Future of Our Sewer Service

About the Planning Process

The liquid waste management plan process is used by local governments in BC to develop strategies for managing sewer services. It includes the collection/review of existing information, development of options for future services, identification of a preferred option, completion of required studies and assessments and development of financial and implementation plans. The plan is ultimately submitted to the provincial government for review and consideration for approval.

Public engagement is key to the planning process. Please visit the "Public Engagement Reports" dropdown menu below to view a record of how public feedback has been gathered and how it will influence the development of this plan.

Key Milestones

The CVRD has reached several important milestones in the liquid waste management planning process since the kick-off in early summer 2018:

• June 2018: Community workshop to help determine community values around managing sewer services in Comox and Courtenay.
• Oct. 2018: Public and Technical Advisory committee members are selected.
• Nov. 2018: Community workshop to share and receive feedback on sewer planning goals/objectives drafted by the advisory committees.
• Jan. 2019: Community information session to share and receive feedback on the long list of options for conveyance, treatment and resource recovery.
• Feb. 2019: Sewage Commission adopts the goals and objectives for the long-term plan. See the staff report here.
• Mar. 2019: Sewage Commission accepts the long list of options for conveyance, treatment and resource recovery. See the staff report here.
• Apr. 2019 – Dec. 2019: CVRD undertakes extensive technical review and First Nations consultation.  
• Mar. 2020: Sewage Commission approves the short list of options for the service’s conveyance system and the shortlist goes to the community for their input. See the staff report here. 
• Apr. 2020: Engagement process is paused due to COVID-19 response. Public consultation is suspended, with plans to re-launch in the Fall. See the staff report here.
• Sept. 2020: Public consultation on shortlisted options relaunches. See the news release here.
• Sept. 30, Oct. 1, 7 and 8:  Webinar and in-person open houses to provide more information about the options under consideration.
• Nov. 5, 2020: Groundwater Webinar to answer questions from Lazo Area residents about how groundwater will be protected during the installation and operation of a new conveyance system. 
• Dec.8, 2020: Sewage Commission approves the preferred option for treatment and resource recovery. See the staff report here.

Additional Background