Skip to main content
Menu
  • Home
  • Site-Wide Projects
  • English

    Select your language

      Translation not available for this page
      Translation Disclaimer
    • Log In / Join
    • My profile
      • Edit profile
      • Sign out
    • Search this site...

    Sewer Conveyance FAQ

    You are here:

    1. Home
    2. Comox Valley Sewer Conveyance Project
    3. Sewer Conveyance FAQ
    • Why is this project happening?
    • What does this project involve?
    • UPDATE: When will construction begin, and how long will it last?
    • UPDATE: How much will this project cost?
    • What areas will have their sewage use serviced with this new system?

    FAQ

    • Why is this project happening?
    • The sewer pipe that runs along the Willemar Bluffs was built in 1982. Each day more than 14,000 cubic metres of untreated sewage (almost 6 Olympic-sized pools) moves through this pipe to the sewage treatment plant on Brent Road. It is located along an exposed section of beach, and is vulnerable to damage from waves, rocks and logs – a break in the pipe would release raw sewage into Comox Bay and Baynes Sound. 

      The new system will route sewer pipes further inland where they will no longer be vulnerable to storm damage. It will also upgrade the pump stations to withstand climate change impacts and meet seismic standards. This project is urgently needed to protect the beaches and waters throughout the Comox Estuary, Point Holmes, Goose Spit coastline, as well as Baynes Sound.

    • What does this project involve?
    • This project involves: 

      • Installing a new sewer pipe from the Courtenay Pump Station all the way to the sewage treatment plant.
      • Building a new Courtenay Pump Station for climate resiliency and to meet current earthquake standards.
      • Upgrading two other pump stations: K’ómoks Pump Station (in IR1) and Comox Pump Station (at Jane Place).
    • UPDATE: When will construction begin, and how long will it last?
    • The project start date is scheduled for April 1, 2024. Construction will span a 30-month period with the first phase focusing on work in the Town of Comox and specific areas of Electoral Area B throughout 2024.

      In 2024, the work will be divided into four construction zones, each with distinct traffic impacts. The second phase will commence in 2025 and entails the construction along Comox Road and Comox Avenue west of Rodello Street.

      For complete details on the construction schedule and traffic impacts visit the interactive digital map linked on the project homepage or refer to the presentation package presented to the public January 2024.

    • UPDATE: How much will this project cost?
    • The project will cost $96 million with an estimated 80-year service life for the new sewer pipe. The Sewage Commission had approved the project budget at $101 million. Following a successful procurement process in fall 2023, the CVRD was able to realize a $5 million savings.


      In March 2024, the federal and provincial government announced a grant for the construction of the new Courtenay Pump Station of $9.8 million in combined funding. More details regarding the grant funding are in the linked press release.

    • What areas will have their sewage use serviced with this new system?
    • The Comox Valley sewer system serves the City of Courtenay, the Town of Comox, K’ómoks First Nation (K’ómoks), and the Department of National Defence.

      The South Sewer Extension Project, which includes collection systems, pump stations and sewer forcemains, are in planning stages, and if built, will be tied into this sewer transmission main.

    • How was the public consulted on the plans for this project?
    • This conveyance project is the result of the extensive Comox Valley Sewer System Liquid Waste Management Planning process (LWMP) which started in 2018, and was developed over three years with the input of a public and technical advisory committee.

      The LWMP identified solutions for conveyance, treatment and resource recovery and included extensive public engagement throughout the process. Input was collected from the community and technical experts and was reported on throughout each stage of the process. Learn more about this plan.

    • How was the public consulted about traffic and construction impacts?
    • A comprehensive stakeholder engagement process was completed in summer 2022 and included meetings with key stakeholder groups such as emergency services, BC Transit and the School District, presentations to Comox and City of Courtenay Councils and downtown business associations, and engagement through a survey for other private utilities, businesses and stakeholders. A "What We Heard" report was presented to the Sewage Commission in September and formed the Traffic Management Strategy.

      In November 2022, the CVRD shared a project update with the community – preparing residents for construction (starting in 2024) and providing more detailed information on construction impacts and costs. It was also a chance to seek further community concerns and identify any community-specific issues that could be considered in the contract design. A "November Project Updates" summary report was presented to the Sewage Commission in December.

      Feedback from groups and advocates was gathered and incorporated, where applicable, into a final Traffic Management Strategy report that will be used by the contractors in the development of a final traffic management plans. The contactor's traffic plan and construction schedules will be presented to the community spring 2024 prior to the start of construction.



    • What is the route for the new pipe?
    • The pipe route starts at the Courtenay Pump Station and will be trenched alongside Comox Road to Farmview Road. The pipe route will follow Farmview Road and utilize agricultural lands to avoid construction in archaeologically sensitive zones. Just to the west of Komoks reserve the pipe will route back to Comox Road and run through K’ómoks land past the IHOS Gallery and Band Administration office.

      It will then move up Comox Hill, along Comox Ave, down Rodello Street and onto Beaufort Avenue, past the marina. From there it will route up Stewart Street in order to avoid the busy downtown core. The pipe will continue down Balmoral Avenue from Stewart Street to Torrence Road,

      The pipe will be trenched through Lazo Hill along Lazo Road to Brent Road to the treatment plant. This remaining section of trenched pipe has been revised form the previous proposal to tunnel through the Hill and cross the marsh. Further due diligence is required before this alignment is finalized.

    • How will archeologically sensitive areas be protected?
    • A Cultural Heritage Impacts Mitigation report was developed to ensure that all areas along the project alignment, within 200m from the shoreline or major waterbodies, are handled appropriately. Further, an archaeological investigation will occur ahead of construction to better understand the extent of archaeological material along the route. Once the initial investigation work is complete, there will be mitigation measures for identified and encountered archaeological sites, including construction monitoring and implementation of data recovery techniques as required.

      During construction, the new pipe will be re-routed off Comox Road to avoid archaeologically sensitive zones. The new pipe will also be installed in the existing trench through most of K'ómoks IR1 to avoid undisturbed midden material.

    • What traffic impacts are expected along the route?
    • Due to the extent and anticipated duration of the project, there will be significant impacts to traffic throughout the course of construction. Full details of the traffic impacts can be found in the Traffic Management Strategy.

      The Traffic Management Strategy will be provided to the contractors and contractual language based on the recommendations within the strategy will be incorporated into the procurement documents to guide the contractors’ development of their traffic management plans.


    • How would a leak be detected in the pipe tunnelled through Lazo Hill?
    • A monitoring program has been developed for the project and is included in the Groundwater Protection Policy. This will include regular, annual testing for leaks using acoustic detection equipment, which goes through the pipes to listen for signs of leakage. Including this plan in the policy ensures that leak detection will continue regardless of changes to CVRD staff or elected officials.

    • While the likelihood of a leak is low, what measures are in place to ensure a quick response to a leak?
    • To ensure the safety of the aquifer, the CVRD will implement a leak detection program, which entails the use of acoustic leak detection equipment to detect and identify a leak and conduct the necessary repairs. 

      Working with a hydrogeologist, we completed an assessment of the aquifer and determined the estimated travel times of wastewater in the aquifer in the highly unlikely event of a leak. The developed travel time was used to inform the frequency of the acoustic monitoring, to ensure a leak is detected and can be repaired before any contamination would reach the nearest wells to the alignment.

      We will also have an emergency response plan that includes the necessary designs and a spill response kit that ensures required repair materials are stored at our treatment plant.

    • Will the aquifer be harmed in the case of a leak?
    • The design of the new system, including using zero pressure gravity flow and high density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe, is key to protecting groundwater. By removing the requirement for a pressurized forcemain and using HDPE pipe, we are able to ensure the pipe will be very strong for the flow required and resistant to breaks or corrosion. The route also allows the pipe to stay well above aquifer and at least 20 metres away from all wells. Our groundwater consultants estimate that any leak would take over several months to reach the aquifer given the compact nature of the ground it’s being installed in – and progress 20 m horizontally. The same ground would serve as a filtering tool, preventing contamination.

    • What is the composition of drilling fluid that will be used during the horizontal directional drilling through Lazo Hill and is it safe?
    •  The contractor who will be completing this work has not yet been selected. As they will be responsible for defining the drilling fluid make-up, specific details on the exact composition is not available at this stage (February 2023). However, the CVRD can confirm that the contract requirements mandate that all drilling fluids, muds and additives are certified under NSF/ANSI/60: Drinking Water Treatment Chemicals – Health Effects. 

      NSF/ANSI 60: Drinking Water Treatment Chemicals – Health Effects is an American National Standard that establishes the minimum health-effects requirements for the chemicals, chemical contaminants and impurities that are directly added to drinking water from drinking water treatment chemicals.

    • What other Town of Comox infrastructure improvements will be completed as part of this project?
    • The CVRD and Town of Comox have come to an agreement to include some key infrastructure projects for the Town of Comox as part of the project. This will minimize construction and traffic disruptions for all impacted residents. Upgrades identified by the Town include: 

      • New roundabout at Glacier View Drive and Comox Avenue;
      • New roundabout at Rodello Street and Comox Avenue;
      • Beaufort Avenue improvements including upgrading the roadway cross section on Beaufort Avenue between Church Street and Nordin Street.
      • A sidewalk on both sides of Beaufort Avenue, formalized parking areas and a shared bike/vehicle lane.
      • A new sidewalk on the south side of Balmoral Avenue from Stewart Street to Pritchard Street. 
      • Repaving of Balmoral Avenue and Torrence Road, as well as the south bound lane of Torrence Road between Lazo Road and Albatross Avenue.
    • Will the older trees along Balmoral and Beaufort avenues be impacted by construction?
    • We heard very clearly from the community that preserving the trees along the construction route was an important priority, and we take the protection of trees very seriously throughout our construction projects.

      As part of our commitment to environmental stewardship, we have engaged a certified arborist who will monitor the impact on the trees and ensure that they are adequately protected throughout construction.

      The installation of the sewer forcemain is within the roadway to minimize impacts to trees. Only in the event that construction will severely impacted trees will there be a requirement for removal. Should this occur, decision will be made first in consultation with the arborist and in discussion with homeowners.

      We are fully committed to adhering to all applicable regulations related to tree protection and environmental conservation. Our goal is to complete the project with minimal impact on the surrounding ecosystem, including the health and vitality of the trees.

    Back to Main Page - Comox Valley Sewer Conveyance Project

    Questions about Engage Comox Valley? Need help with your account? We're happy to help.

    Contact Information
    Name CVRD Communications
    Phone 250-334-6000
    Email communications@comoxvalleyrd.ca
    Website www.comoxvalleyrd.ca
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Youtube
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Accessibility
    • Moderation
    • Translation Disclaimer
    © 2025 Engage Comox Valley.    All rights reserved. Log In to Site Currently logged in as USERNAME. Sign Out
    Link to Social Pinpoint website

    Privacy Policy

    This site is owned and operated by Comox Valley Regional District using software licensed from Social Pinpoint. We take appropriate measures to safeguard personal information and use encryption, access controls, and other security measures to protect it. For details on what personal information we may collect and access, please refer to Social Pinpoint's Privacy Policy.

    Users have the right to access, correct, or delete their personal information, subject to certain exceptions. For details on how to exercise these rights, or for any questions or concerns about our privacy practices, please contact us in writing at jsteel@comoxvalleyrd.ca.

    This privacy policy may change from time to time, and any changes will be communicated to users through the site.

    Terms of Use

    The following Terms and Conditions govern the use of Engage Comox Valley (“the site”). The software platform is owned by Social Pinpoint Pty Ltd (SPP) and operated by us, Comox Valley Regional District.

    By accessing and using this site, you are choosing to accept and comply with the Terms presented throughout this agreement as well as the Privacy Policy and Moderation Policy. These Terms apply to all visitors and users of this site. Linked sites, affiliated services or third-party content or software have their own Terms that you must comply with. If you disagree with any of the Terms presented in this agreement, you may discontinue using the site immediately.

    If you are under 18 years old, please ensure that your parent or guardian understands and accepts these Terms and Conditions (including the Privacy Policy and Moderation Policy).

    What are the conditions with a user’s account?

    While using the site, you must not violate any applicable laws and regulations. It is our duty to protect the confidentiality of content you provide on our site in accordance with our Privacy Policy. When you create an account with us, you must always provide us with accurate information. Failure to provide accurate information violates the Terms, which may result in immediate termination of your account on our service. You are responsible for protecting your own password you use for this site and for any activities done under that password. Unauthorised use of your password or account must be immediately reported to us. In some cases, we or our agents may require access to your user accounts to respond to technical issues.

    We are not responsible for the content on the site that has been provided by the users of the site. Any content posted by you is subject to the rules of our Moderation Policy. Your contribution to the site may be edited, removed or not published if we consider it inappropriate (refer to Moderation Policy). Contributors should also be aware that their posts may remain online indefinitely. Where practical, you may choose not to identify yourself, deal with us on an anonymous basis or use a pseudonym.

    What do we require from our users?

    You must understand and agree that, without limitation:

    • all information, data, images and other materials are the sole responsibility of the person from whom the content originated;
    • you are prohibited from advertising or offering to sell or buy any goods and services
    • you cannot transmit Content that contains software viruses or programs designed to change or destroy the functionality of any computer software or hardware; or
    • you cannot collect or store personal data about other users of the site
    • you cannot impersonate any person or entity, including without limitation to a Comox Valley Regional District representative
    • you cannot interrupt or interfere with the site or servers or networks connected to the site
    • you cannot attempt to gain unauthorised access to the site or other use accounts

    Can your account be suspended or terminated?

    We may terminate or suspend access to your site and/or account immediately, without prior notice, including without limitation if you breach the Terms. We may immediately deactivate or delete your account and all the related files and information in your account. After your account has been terminated, the content you have posted may also remain indefinitely on the site.

    If you want to terminate your own account, please send an email to jsteel@comoxvalleyrd.ca.

    Governing Law

    These Terms shall be governed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, the United States of America and Queensland, Australia, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

    Indemnification

    Engage Comox Valley, its subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, agents, licensors and other partners are not responsible for any loss, liability, claim, or demand, including legal fees, made by any third party due to or arising from a breach of this agreement and/or any breach of your representations and warranties set forth above.

    What content do we own?

    This website contains the copyrighted material, trademarks, patents, trade secrets and other proprietary information (“Intellectual Property”) of Comox Valley Regional District and its suppliers and licensors. Comox Valley Regional District owns and retains all proprietary rights in the intellectual property. All intellectual property in the content of this site including without limitation to text, software, source code, pages, documents and online graphics, photographs, sounds, audio, video and other interactive features are owned by or licensed to us.

    Any original content that you submit or post on our site may be made available to the public and allows users to share your content (with the end user acknowledging your contribution) under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License.

    Except for Intellectual Property which is in the public domain or for which you have been given written permission, you may not copy, alter, transmit, sell, distribute any of the Intellectual Property on this site.

    We are not responsible for your communications or dealings, including payment and delivery of goods or services, with a third party found via our website. Any loss or damage incurred from those communications or dealings are solely between the user and the third party.

    Disclaimer and Warranties

    Users must agree that you use of the site is at your own risk. We make no warranty that the site will meet your requirements or be uninterrupted or error-free. Any material that the user downloads through the site is done at their own risk and are responsible for any damages to their computer system or loss of data.

    What happens if these Terms change?

    We reserve the right, at our sole discretion, to modify or replace these Terms at any time without notice. The most recent version of the Terms can be seen on this page. By continuing to access or use our site after those revisions become effective, you agree and will comply to the revised terms. If you do not agree to the revised terms, please discontinue using our site.

    Contact Us

    If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us at jsteel@comoxvalleyrd.ca.

    Welcome back

    Forgot your password?

    Need an account? Sign up today

    Reset password

    Enter your email address below. We will send you instructions to reset your password.

    Back to Log in

    Join our online community and participate in shaping the future of the Comox Valley.

    Creating an account helps us better understand your needs and connect you to the projects you care about.

    At least one capital letter and at least one number or character. Your password must have a minimum length of 5 characters.
    By creating an account you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use

    Already have an account? Log in now

    Thank you, your account has been created.

    Thank you, your account has been created.

    Help us get to know you better.

    Completing the questions below helps us better understand who is using this tool and if we can provide you more information.


    User Details
    Which Comox Valley Communities interest you?

    You’re using an outdated browser.
    Some features of this website may not work correctly. To get a better experience we strongly recommend you download a new browser for free:

    • Download Chrome
    • Download Firefox
    • Download Edge
    • Download Safari
    Follow CTA

    Thank you for your contribution

    Would you like to follow this project to receive email updates?

    No thanks
    Signup CTA

    Thank you for your contribution

    Would you like to create an account or sign in?

    Have an account? Log in

    No thanks