Comox Valley Sewer Conveyance Project
Protecting our oceans with a new route for sewer pipes
The Comox Valley Sewer Conveyance Project is a multi-year construction project that will replace the pipes and upgrade the pump stations that move more than 14,000 cubic metres of raw sewage each day to the sewage treatment plant on Brent Road.
This new system will route sewer pipes further inland where they will no longer be vulnerable to damage by waves, rocks and logs. Watch this video to find out more about the project and how it will protect the beaches and waters throughout the Comox Estuary, Point Holmes, Goose Spit coastline, as well as Baynes Sound.
About the Project
This is a significant and complex Project that starts at the Courtenay Pump Station and moves through K’ómoks land, downtown Comox and the Lazo Road area to the Comox Valley Water Pollution Control Centre (Sewage Treatment Plant) on Brent Road. There are construction impacts, traffic impacts and archaeological considerations. The CVRD is working with many jurisdictions and partners to deliver this project smoothly and efficiently and minimize impacts where we can.
Scroll through the map below to learn more about the project and its impacts. To view this interactive map on large screen, click here.
Public Engagement
The CVRD is committed to keeping the community informed about the work and the impacts ahead. Read the news feed below to find out more about current engagement opportunities.
Want to be in the know about upcoming engagement opportunities? Sign up for updates by clicking the "Follow Project" link on the right hand of the page.
Protecting our oceans with a new route for sewer pipes
The Comox Valley Sewer Conveyance Project is a multi-year construction project that will replace the pipes and upgrade the pump stations that move more than 14,000 cubic metres of raw sewage each day to the sewage treatment plant on Brent Road.
This new system will route sewer pipes further inland where they will no longer be vulnerable to damage by waves, rocks and logs. Watch this video to find out more about the project and how it will protect the beaches and waters throughout the Comox Estuary, Point Holmes, Goose Spit coastline, as well as Baynes Sound.
About the Project
This is a significant and complex Project that starts at the Courtenay Pump Station and moves through K’ómoks land, downtown Comox and the Lazo Road area to the Comox Valley Water Pollution Control Centre (Sewage Treatment Plant) on Brent Road. There are construction impacts, traffic impacts and archaeological considerations. The CVRD is working with many jurisdictions and partners to deliver this project smoothly and efficiently and minimize impacts where we can.
Scroll through the map below to learn more about the project and its impacts. To view this interactive map on large screen, click here.
Public Engagement
The CVRD is committed to keeping the community informed about the work and the impacts ahead. Read the news feed below to find out more about current engagement opportunities.
Want to be in the know about upcoming engagement opportunities? Sign up for updates by clicking the "Follow Project" link on the right hand of the page.
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Groundwater Protection Measures for Sewer Conveyance Project
The CVRD corresponded to Lazo Hill residents in a letter emailed January 5, 2023 in response to a bulletin prepared by a group known as Save Quadra Sands Aquifer. The bulletin makes claim that the CVRD chose to drill into the aquifer because it is the cheapest option, prioritizing cost over public safety and that expert consultants identified hydrofracture as a risk during pipe installation.
The situation merited acknowledgement with Lazo Hill residents of the bulletin and to take the opportunity to reaffirm the rationale in choosing the tunneling methodology and design for the conveyance project, and to share detailed information about the Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) installation through Lazo Hill.
To view the letter to residents, visit Letter to Lazo Hill Residents.
For more information regarding aquifer protection and leak detection, visit the FAQs.
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How We Selected the Route For the Sewer Conveyance Project
In 2018, the CVRD started work on a Liquid Waste Management Plan (LWMP) for the Comox Valley Sewer System to ensure our system will continue to operate safely and grow with our community. The LWMP identified a preferred conveyance route for new/upgraded sewer pipes and pump stations, which was approved by the Comox Valley Sewage Commission in February 2021.
The final project scope was confirmed after six months of further review/assessment, which was completed after the successful Alternate Approval Process in summer 2021. This additional assessment led to some updates from the original route presented, including:
- Cut-and-cover (trenching) at Comox Hill: The traditional trenching method has been selected rather than tunneling. This will reduce risk while meeting long-term operational goals.
- New Courtenay Pump Station: A new pump station would be more cost efficient in the long-term and allow the CVRD to move it away from the K’ómoks Estuary, reducing operational and environmental risk.
- Gravity line tunneled at Lazo Hill: The pipe route will still be tunneled at Lazo Hill, and the final route selected allows a gravity flow – reducing the already-very low risk of a leak and reducing ongoing operational costs.
The approved scope allowed the project to move into the final design and tendering stages.
To learn more about how the chosen route was selected, visit the LWMP website and click the Public Engagement and the Key Milestones Report drop-down menu.
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Public Engagement on Project Plans
In November, the CVRD shared a project update with the community – preparing residents for construction starting next summer and providing more detailed information on construction impacts and costs.
A report summarizing the community input is available now.
Read Report Here(External link).
Didn't have the opportunity to attend? View poster boards from the in-person open houses or watch a video of the Zoom Webinar held on November 14.
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What We Heard: Planning for Traffic Impacts
In June/July 2022, we asked stakeholders, community groups and service providers for input on traffic management planning during the Comox Valley Sewer Conveyance Project. The project will provide a critical update to sewer infrastructure that will remove an urgent environmental risk – but we recognize it will also be highly disruptive along an already-busy traffic corridor and are committed to engaging with the community to reduce impacts where possible.
The feedback provided has helped the project team better understand how the area along Comox Road, Comox Hill and routes in/through downtown Comox are currently used, what management measures would be most helpful and what the biggest concerns are about disruption. Thank you to everyone who took the time to provide input – the feedback will inform the traffic management strategy which will be shared with the community later this fall.
The summary report about this community engagement is now available here.
Watch for more information soon about community information sessions in November, that will provide updates about construction planning and the traffic management strategy to be implemented.
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Tunneling and Groundwater Information Shared with Lazo Area Residents
In March 2021, the CVRD hosted a webinar for residents within the proposed tunneling area in Area B (Lazo area). The online session provided additional information about the groundwater monitoring and assessment work that has been completed to date, and the further planning that will be done before construction starts on the new sewer conveyance route, selected by the Sewage Commission in February. The project team responded to a number of questions from residents about potential impacts to their property, protection measures that are being planned, and other planning details.
The information is now posted for anyone who was unable to attend:
- Video of the session is now posted the at ConnectCVRD LWMP Page - you can find it in the videos section in the righthand menu or by clicking here.
- While many questions were addressed during the 1.5 hour session, there were a few that required follow up. Those questions, along with the responses, are now posted in the FAQ section of the LWMP Connect CVRD page located in the right-hand menu bar, or click here.
Any further questions? Share them here in the Questions tab.
Who's Listening
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Senior Manager of Water and Wastewater, CVRD
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Timeline
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Fall/Winter 2021 - Planning
Comox Valley Sewer Conveyance Project has finished this stageFinal route planning, project scope development and negotiation of statutory right of ways.
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Winter/Spring 2022 - Approve Project Scope
Comox Valley Sewer Conveyance Project has finished this stageFinal project scope approved and route finalized. Detailed design and procurement initiated.
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Spring 2022 - Present the Plan
Comox Valley Sewer Conveyance Project has finished this stageThe final project scope for the conveyance project, starting from the Courtenay Pump Station and ending at the Sewage Treatment Plant, will be shared via public events.
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Traffic Management Planning
Comox Valley Sewer Conveyance Project has finished this stageA comprehensive stakeholder engagement process will be launched to gather input that will be used to develop a traffic management strategy for the project.
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Fall 2022/Winter 2023 - Engage with the Community
Comox Valley Sewer Conveyance Project has finished this stageResidents and business along all points of the Comox Valley Sewer Conveyance route will be consulted as part of the pre-construction planning process. This will help us to create a plan for construction that considers everyone impacted by the project.
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Nov/Dec 2022 - Archaeological Investigations
Comox Valley Sewer Conveyance Project has finished this stageStarting November 28, and lasting three to four weeks, the CVRD will be completing borehole drilling along the route to confirm the presence or absence of archeological materials.
To view an investigations map, see detailed drilling information and learn more details about impacts to roadways, read the full backgrounder here.
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Alternative Approval Process
Comox Valley Sewer Conveyance Project is currently at this stageAn Alternative Approval Process will be held next spring 2023 to seek consent from electors to use long term borrowing for the additional $16.7 million required to fund the project, now estimated at $101 million.
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Summer / Fall 2023 - Estimated Start of Construction
this is an upcoming stage for Comox Valley Sewer Conveyance ProjectCommunication will continue throughout the project beginning in the spring with a new round of public engagement opportunities including notice of the construction schedule and the traffic management plan for all commuters. The CVRD will work diligently with its contractor to minimize construction disruptions during peak times.
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Winter 2025 - Project Completion
this is an upcoming stage for Comox Valley Sewer Conveyance ProjectEstimated completion of construction
FAQs
- Why is this project happening?
- What does this project involve?
- How was the public consulted on the plans for this project?
- UPDATED - How was the public consulted about traffic and construction impacts?
- What is the route for the new pipe?
- While the likelihood of a leak is low, what measures are in place to ensure a quick response to a leak?
Documents
Videos
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Click here to play video Comox Valley Sewer Conveyance Project Information Session, November 14 The Sewer Conveyance Project will affect everyone who lives, works and travels along Comox Road and through the Town of Comox. This webinar describes the project route, traffic management plans, and how this project will protect our local beaches and waters.
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Click here to play video Long Term Plan for the Comox Valley Sewer Service Watch this webinar to learn about the long term plan for sewer services, including the final route for the Sewer Conveyance Project and future upgrades at the Sewage Treatment Plant. Find out how this plan will protect the beaches and waters throughout the Comox Estuary, Point Holmes, Goose Spit coastline and Baynes Sound.
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Click here to play video Feb 2 - Comox Valley Sewer Conveyance Project Information Session Lazo Area residents were invited to loin the Comox Valley Regional District for a webinar information session to update the community about the sewer pipe route and design through Lazo Hill, statutory right-of-way for impacted Lazo area properties, groundwater monitoring and a proposed groundwater protection policy for the Lazo area.
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Click here to play video Feb 3 - Comox Valley Sewer Conveyance Project Information Session Lazo Area residents were invited to loin the Comox Valley Regional District for a webinar information session to update the community about the sewer pipe route and design through Lazo Hill, statutory right-of-way for impacted Lazo area properties, groundwater monitoring and a proposed groundwater protection policy for the Lazo area