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Comox Valley Water Treatment Project Update

Click on the image below to view the first issue of our new project update, which was created to help keep the community informed about this important project. We will share our milestones, timelines and progress update as we move forward with building a new water treatment system for the Comox Valley.

 

About the Comox Valley Water Treatment Project

With funding secure and land acquisitions complete, detailed planning and design is now underway for the Water Treatment Project, in anticipation of construction expected to begin by the end of 2019.

The project involves developing a new water treatment system to serve communities in the CVRD including new intake infrastructure, pumping stations and pipelines, force mains, transmission mains and a filtration facility.

Watch the video below read more about why a new water treatment plant is needed.

Latest News

  • An RFP for design and build of the new system was issued to three pre-qualified proponents in Nov. 2018 and closes May 2019. It’s expected a contract will be awarded in July.
  • In Jan/Feb the public was asked for input on trail head amenities. A summary of those results was shared with the successful proponent for future planning.
Project Background

The Comox Valley water system provides drinking water to 45,000 residents, including the City of Courtenay, the Town of Comox and the K’ómoks First Nation and needs to be updated. The current system doesn’t comply with the provincial surface water treatment objectives guideline.

Bringing the Comox Valley water system in line with other communities across BC, Canada and the developed world, the new system will deliver three main benefits:

 
  • It will eliminate the need for turbidity-related boil water notices
  • It will remove the risk of viruses and bacteria in our drinking water
  • It will provide a secure supply of reliable, high quality drinking water for decades to come.

On November 28, 2018, the Government of Canada and Province of BC committed $62 million in federal-provincial funding for a new drinking water treatment system.

For more information about the grant read the press release.

 

Water Agreement Signed with K’ómoks First Nation

The K’ómoks First Nation and Comox Valley Regional District 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.  

For more information about this agreement please see our news announcement.

 

Project Cost and Funding

The Comox Valley Water Treatment Project is estimated to cost $110.6 million.

While the project will receive federal and provincial grant funding 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 currently holds reserves of $26.3 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 RFP for the project design and build closes in May 2019 and award is expected in July. Some construction related activities (ie – land clearing) could begin in 2019 while detailed design is completed. Infrastructure construction will begin in 2020, to be complete May 2021.

Background Documents

For more information about the Comox Valley Water Treatment Project please see the following documents:

Related Staff Reports