Comox Valley Sewer Conveyance Project

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.

*JULY 2022 UPDATE: This survey is now closed. A summary report will be available this fall.

The CVRD is currently developing plans for the Comox Valley Sewer Conveyance Project – including a traffic management strategy that will guide contractors when work begins in 2023. We are asking for the feedback of key stakeholders to inform this strategy. If you received a letter of invitation, click here to complete the form before end of day, July 10 (Sunday).

The CVRD will have additional information for the general public this fall about the project plans ahead and to share updates about what to expect when work gets underway.

Part of a larger plan for sewer services in our community

The CVRD shared its long term plan for sewer services including the final route for the Sewer Conveyance Project and future upgrades at the Sewage Treatment Plant with the community in April.

Didn't have the opportunity to attend? View the poster boards from our open house on April 4 at the Comox Rec Centre or watch the video of the Zoom Webinar held on April 13.

On Feb. 22, 2022, the Comox Valley Sewage Commission approved the final project scope for the Comox Valley Sewer Conveyance Project. The approved scope will move the project into the final design and tendering stages.

The scope was confirmed after 6 months of further review/assessment 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 tunnelling. 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 River, 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 community will be invited to updates – both in person and online – in early April to share more information about the final plan forward. Watch here for more information.

Lazo Area residents were invited to join the Comox Valley Regional District last week for two webinar information sessions 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.

View the videos

February 2, 2002 lunch hour webinar

February 3, 2002 evening webinar

With a conceptual pipe route approved by the Sewage Commission in February 2021 and borrowing approved in July – the project team is working now on the final route and project scope, to be ready this fall/winter.

Read the press release about the successful Alternate Approval Process here.

The CVRD remains focused on minimizing costs and impacts on residents and businesses and discussions are underway with the Town of Comox Discussions are underway with the Town of Comox regarding the final route through the Town and mitigating community impacts. The CVRD is also working with the K’ómoks First Nation to protect archaeologically sensitive areas during construction in an effort to preserve cultural heritage sites, ancestral burial places and artifacts.

Watch this page for updates on time and details of our next public engagement events in fall/winter 2021-22.

Two online sessions were offered in May 2021, to inform local residents about ongoing sewer planning and to address questions about the tunneling feature of the selected pipe route. This update was the third in a series of sessions hosted specifically for Lazo Area residents and build on an 18-month Liquid Waste Management Plan process that included multiple stages of public engagement. This included Area B representation on a public advisory committee (PAC) which reviewed, discussed and provided recommendations at each stage of the planning process.

Video of the session is posted at the ConnectCVRD LWMP page.

Any further questions? Share them here in the Questions tab or contact us at communications@comoxvalleyrd.ca.

On March 4, 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 –in the right-hand menu bar as well or click here.

Any further questions? Share them here in the Questions tab.

On February 23, 2021, the Comox Valley Sewage Commission approved a plan to upgrade the pipes and pump stations that move wastewater from Courtenay, Comox and the K’ómoks First Nation to the sewage treatment plant.

Key features of the selected option are:

• A mix of tunneled sections (under Comox Ave. and Lazo hills) with traditional ‘cut-and-cover’ trenched installation. The tunneling will reduce the construction impact and operational pressure on the system.
• Work to be undertaken as one phase, rather than separated into two phases divided by up to 15-20 years, to reduce risk posed by the estuary’s foreshore forcemain.

The option is anticipated to cost $73 million, paid for by $21 million in reserves, and $52 million in long-term borrowing. The cost per household is estimated at $150/per year for 30 years. Read the press release here.