Comox Valley Water Treatment 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.

What's Happening Now

Crews are now preparing for drilling work to begin at the Raw Water Pump Station site with excavation for the pump station wet well/tunnelling shaft complete and the floor slab poured. The electrical building is also taking form: electrical conduit has been placed and the foundation walls are complete.

At the Water Treatment Plant site, crews are making progress on wall installation for the treatment plant and supporting structures. Excavation of the clearwell, a large reservoir which feeds the pipeline that connects to the existing distribution system, is complete and the floor slabs are being poured.

Along the penstock corridor, clearing work has come to an end with installation of the new water pipeline beginning in late May.

Work planned May through June 2020 includes:

Completing excavation for new water intake (next to the Courtenay Fish and Game boat launch), and preparing for the steel sleeve to be tunnelled into Comox Lake
Pouring base slab for the electrical building at the Raw Water Pump Station site
Completing foundation work for water treatment plant and supporting structures like the sludge holding tank, flocculation tanks, pipe gallery, clearwell and starting wall forming
Starting installation of steel pipe for the treated water pipeline between the treatment plant and the existing distribution system
Installing pipe for the raw water transmission main between Comox Lake and the water treatment plant

Check out our latest newsletter for stories, photos and more.

Project Progress at a Glance

A time lapse camera has been installed at the Water Treatment Project site. The video below shows how construction progressed at the site through December 2019 and March 2020. Or check out our timelapse video library below to view monthly progress.

Timelapse video library

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.

Project Timeline