Backwash pumps in the Clearwell pump room that pump treated water backwards through the system to clean the filters. (Supplied by the Comox Valley Regional District)
The Comox Valley Water Treatment Project is almost 90 percent complete and is scheduled to go into operation this spring.
If all goes well, construction could be completed by summer.
According to CVRD, the new $ 126 million system will eliminate the risk of viruses and bacteria in the valley’s drinking water and ensure a safe supply of reliable, high quality drinking water for decades.
This project affects 45,000 residents.
Last year the crews installed eight kilometers of pipeline and poured enough concrete to fill four Olympic pools.
Recent milestones being celebrated now include:
- Completed the installation of a pipeline approximately eight kilometers in diameter on the project including: Raw Water Transfer Line, Treated Water Transfer Line and Marine Pipeline at Comox Lake.
- Completed installation of the intake structure at Comox Lake, which shields raw water before it flows through the marine pipeline.
- Completed construction of the Clearwell in the water treatment facility, which will store up to 10 million liters of treated water before entering the treated water transmission line.
“The solid and consistent work of the crews and members of the project team means that we are on track to complete this project on time,” said Wendy Morin, Chair of the CVRD Water Committee. “Everyone’s hard work to keep this project on track under unexpected circumstances over the past year is cause for celebration.”
All mechanical equipment has now been installed at the raw water pumping station and testing of the pumping system equipment will begin later in April. In the coming months, the construction of the water treatment plant will also be completed, including the final installation and testing of the systems that treat the water through filtration, UV treatment and chlorination.
“This exciting achievement marks the end of all turbidity-related evidence of boiling water and provides a secure supply of reliable, high-quality drinking water for many years to come,” said Russell Dyson, chief administrative officer.
Upgrades to the trailhead next to the water treatment facility on Lake Trail Road will also be coming soon.
The work on the new gravel parking lot, the water filling station and the washroom in the adjacent building will be ready for public use by midsummer.
You can stay up to date on the project’s progress by updating videos posted on the CVRD’s social media channels or by reading the latest project newsletter online here.
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