Comox Valley Water Treatment Project

Visit our photo gallery to view our top construction milestones.

Photo Caption: These tanks are the first part of the process in the treatment plant: where binding of solids and particles in the raw water happens before the water moves into the filtration tanks (June 2021).

About the Project

Construction of the Comox Valley Water Treatment Project kicked off in fall 2019 and is well underway. The new system, scheduled for completion in 2021, will comply with the provincial surface water treatment objectives guideline and deliver three main benefits:

Eliminate the need for turbidity-related boil water notices
Remove the risk of viruses and bacteria in our drinking water
Provide a secure supply of reliable, high quality drinking water for decades to come

Learn more about why we need a water treatment plant.

Watch a Timelapse Video

See how construction progressed on the site last month or check out our library below for a more detailed look back at how the project has evolved since breaking ground in October 2019.

What's Happening Now:

Raw Water Pump Station – Nearing total completion, fencing work is underway.
Water Treatment Plant – Commissioning work is underway. Samples taken post-disinfection of the facilities were approved by Island Health and water is now flowing from the new intake and through the new treatment plant. One of the two existing UV units has been moved from the old treatment plant to the new one. Fitting of cabinets and workbenches in the admin building, lighting throughout the building, completion of chemical systems, completion of the septic field.

Here's what crews are working on through June:

Finishing up final tasks for treated water transmission line
Continuing architectural work in the admin building
Continuing installation of chemical systems
Starting up and calibrating instrumentation
Start official commissioning (start up) of the facility in late June
Continuing to ensure COVID-19 safety precautions are in place so that construction can continue safely

News Highlights

Partnering with K’ómoks First Nation

The K’ómoks First Nation (KFN) and the CVRD signed a Mutual Benefit Agreement on September 28, 2018 confirming cooperation and collaboration in the management of water resources in the region. In the signing of this agreement, KFN has stated its support of the Comox Valley Water Treatment Project and the CVRD’s water license application.

The CVRD celebrated the start of construction and officially broke ground with the KFN on October 30, 2019 at Comox Lake. From left to right: CVRD director Daniel Arbour, K’ómoks First Nation Councillors Katherine Frank and Richard Hardy, CVRD directors Wendy Morin and Doug Hillian, CVRD Water Committee Chair David Frisch, K’ómoks First Nation Chief Nicole Rempel, CVRD Chair Bob Wells and CVRD director Edwin Grieve.

Project Cost and Funding

The Comox Valley Water Treatment Project is estimated to cost $126 million.

While the project will receive federal and provincial grant funding ($58.5 million) under the Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) – Environmental Quality (EQ), there will still be costs for which the CVRD will be responsible.

The Comox Valley Water System will contribute reserves of $38.5 million and the CVRD plans to borrow up to $29 million over a maximum of 25 years to finance its share of the construction costs.

The cost of borrowing this money will mean an increase in bulk water rates for users of the Comox Valley Water System. It is estimated the new system will cost roughly $86 per household/year.

Click here for more information about how we will fund our Water Treatment Project.

Project Timeline

The design-build contract was awarded to AECON Water Infrastructure Inc. in July 2019, signaling the start of the construction phase of this project. Some construction related activities (like land clearing) will begin in 2019. Infrastructure construction will begin in 2020, to be complete Spring 2021.