The Comox Valley Regional District’s Sewage Commission has agreed to put the proposed Comox No. 2 pump station on hold until analysis of alternative options for re-routing the aging forcemain away from Balmoral Beach (Willemar Bluffs) can be completed.
Results of the project’s indicative design and related assessments were provided at the Sewage Commission meeting this week. They included news that the estimated cost for a Beech Street pump station is significantly higher than budgeted (due to proposed environmental protection measures and other factors), that another option may be more cost effective over the infrastructure’s full lifespan, and that the forcemain along Balmoral Beach (Willemar Bluffs) has a lower risk of failure than anticipated.
An assessment of the current condition of a sewage forcemain along the foreshore was completed in the summer of 2017. Here, equipment is prepared for that work, completed by Pure Technologies.
An open house will be held Thursday, Nov. 9 at the Comox Golf Course from 5 to 7 pm to update the public about the results of the investigation, indicative design stage and next steps.
“The CVRD committed from the beginning that all potential red flags would be investigated by experts before any construction began – and this unanimous decision of the commission shows both our due diligence and commitment to finding the best solution,” said Barbara Price, Chair of the Comox Valley Sewage Commission.
While the Comox No. 2 Pump Station Beech Street site hasn’t been eliminated as an option, the Sewage Commission agrees that additional analysis and consultation should be conducted to confirm whether a better option is available when considering the full-lifecycle of the infrastructure. That analysis will be undertaken in the new year, and results should be available to the commission by early 2019.
The Comox Valley Regional District is a federation of three electoral areas and three municipalities providing sustainable services for residents and visitors to the area. The members of the regional district work collaboratively on services for the benefit of the diverse urban and rural areas of the Comox Valley.
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Media contact:
Barbara Price, Chair
Comox Valley Sewage Commission
to arrange an interview, contact Christianne Wile, 250-334-6066
Kris La Rose, P.Eng.
Senior Manager of Water & Wastewater
Tel: 250-334-6083