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, logs and weather. One of the most important goals of the project is to protect the shoreline and waters throughout the Comox Estuary, Point Holmes, Goose Spit coastlines, as well as Baynes Sound.
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.
The Comox Valley Sewer Conveyance Project will be constructed and funded in one phase but will include two separate construction contracts. One contract will be delivered as a Design-Build contract and will entail sections from the Courtenay Pump Station to the bottom of the Comox Road hill and then from the intersection of Lazo Road and Torrence Road to the treatment plant. The second contract will be a conventional Design-Bid-Build (DBB) contract for works generally through the Town of Comox
Due to Comox Valley Sewer Conveyance Project, please be advised that Routes 1and 2 will see some minor schedule changes and Routes 3, 4, and 15 will have some detours. For more information please visit the BC Transit website.
Route 3
Route 4
Route 15
Beaufort Avenue - Please anticipate delays entering and exiting construction zone.
Comox Avenue
Balmoral Avenue
Lazo Road Open
Welcome Comox Pump Station Neighbours Online Engagement
Survey open February 11 - February 24, 2025. Survey Closes at Noon.
This short survey (10-12 minutes) is for residents of Jane Place and neighbouring properties.
We are seeking feedback from Jane Place residents and neighboring properties about key aspects of the pump station retrofit design. Elements we are seeking feedback on include:
Please reference the images below to select your preferred options.
We encourage you to read our FAQs on this page. Still haven't found the details you are looking for? Pose you question here and we will respond will answers and add to our list and share with others.
Read the news feed below to find out more about current project development and opportunities to stay engaged.
Sign up for updates by clicking the "Follow Project" link on the right hand of the page.
As part of our ongoing Sewer Conveyance Project, we will be installing Air Management Infrastructure along the route of the new pipe.
Why is air management required?
Due to topography of the pipe there are natural high points and low points along its route. There are sections of the pipe where, due to gravity there is more or less air in the pipe. As the flows increase and decrease in the pipe (higher flow when it’s wet out, lower flow during dry seasons), the volume of air in the pipe changes, requiring air to be exhausted or replenished. To ensure proper functioning of the system, air within the pipe needs to be managed (either let in or out) depending on the system’s pressure and flow.
This system requires air management infrastructure in the form of:
There are two types of air intake kiosks. The first are used only for emergency air intake, when there is a risk of negative pressure in the pipe, ex: in the event of power outages. The second, which are slightly larger format pull air continuously into the pipe. Since both are for air intake only, there is no risk of smell and they don’t make any noise.
Locations (if available, exact locations indicated on the interactive map):
Examples of schematic drawings of Air Intake Kiosks:
To request more detailed drawing please contact: communications@comoxvalleyrd.ca
Air Valve Kisoks are required at high points along the route. They are needed to prevent air locks in the pipe. The Kiosks are sealed units designed in two ways to ensure that there is no risk of odour:
There is no noise generated at these kiosks. They vary in size but, overall do not exceed 6’ in height.
Locations (if available, exact locations indicated on the interactive map):
Example schematic drawing of Air Valve Kiosk:
To request more detailed drawing please contact: communications@comoxvalleyrd.ca
An Air Management Point is being installed at the corner of Beckton Drive and Lazo Road. This location was selected due to the hydraulics of the pipe. A long section of the pipe, along Lazo Road, functions by gravity pulling liquid along. As flow in the pipe increases and decreases (more flow during wet weather, less flow during dry) the volume of the air in the pipe changes, requiring air to be exhausted and replenished.
The pipe has been engineered to have air continuously pulled into it and exhausted from it, thereby optimizing the flow by gravity in the section.
The infrastructure is designed to ensure that there will be no noticeable smell. The air which is continuously released at this location is passed through an activated carbon scrubber, which removes odorous gas to a level of 0.1 parts per million of H2S (Hydrogen Sulfide).
As part of the design, a fan is required to help move the air. The fan will be enclosed in a custom acoustic enclosure designed to dampen the sound. The maximum sound achieved should be no more than 45 dB (decibels), which is similar to the sound level a residential fridge makes.
The size of air management point is larger than the air intake and the air valve kiosks. It required a sizeable space, ideally not adjacent to a residential lot. The Town of Comox parcel where the storm water pond is located at the corner of Becton Drive and Lazo Road was identified as the correct location, due to the topography of the pipe, it was public land, and did not border any residential lots. An additional benefit included that the infrastructure could be recessed into the berm of the storm water pond, reducing its visual impact.
Many designs were considered for the infrastructure. After reviewing the options, a fenced design was selected. An enclosed building would have required a much larger footprint to accommodate maintenance. The equipment is designed to be all weather. Even if enclosed, air would still have been required to exhaust continuously from the building. To reduce the overall height and footprint a concert, non-climbable fencing option was selected. The fencing is designed to look like wood and will be eight feet tall.
The air intake kiosks and air valve kiosks are metal enclosures. These boxes have the advantage that they can be vinyl wrapped to reduce their visual impact. Wrapping them can either help camouflage the kisoks or add visual interest to the neighbourhood by highlighting art from a local artist or photographer. Residents input on the appearance of the wrap is encouraged.
