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The Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) manages the Graham Lake Water Local Service Area (WLSA), which provides water to 91 properties (approx. 200 residents). Water in the system is drawn from Graham Lake via a 700m transmission line to a treatment facility before being pumped into the distribution system.
The Graham Lake Water System was previously owned and operated by the Graham Lake Improvement District and supplied water to the CVRD’s Denman Island WLSA. The system was converted to a CVRD service on January 1, 2023, and merged with the Denman Island WLSA in September 2024.
September 10, 2024 The CVRD merged the Graham Lake WLSA and the Denman Island WLSA into one service.
June 20, 2024 An open house was held at the Denman Island Fire Hall to share information on work completed in the past year and discuss additional feedback from the community.
June 17, 2024 CVRD staff proposed a merger of the Graham Lake and Denman Island water local service areas, as well as the reallocation of Community Works Funds to resolve the differential reserve balances between the two services. The EASC Directors approved the recommendations and staff will work towards merging the two services by early 2025.
March 11, 2024 CVRD staff provided an update on the Graham Lake/Denman Island Water Service, including interim treatment plant upgrades, water treatment project, Graham Lake hydrology study and Graham Lake dam study.
November 6, 2023 CVRD staff presented a current assessment of the Graham Lake/Denman Island Water Service, with a number of recommendations to improve the long-term sustainability of this service. The recommendations outlined in the below staff report were voted in favour and approved to move forward by EASC Directors.
September 11, 2023 With the completion of a new water treatment facility not expected for several years, CVRD water operations has identified a number of improvements aimed at increasing the level of automation and ability to remotely monitor the system, which will significantly reduce the operating effort by Graham Lake contract and CVRD operators.
June 2023 On June 12, 2023 an information session was held at the Denman Island Community Hall to provide additional analysis and recommended water treatment options for the area. Below is the presentation given by Kris La Rose, Senior Manager of Water and Wastewater Services.
March 2023 Staff have paused all planning for treatment upgrades until more assessment options have been completed and public engagement with affected residents has occurred.
The Graham Lake Water System currently does not meet health guidelines. The former Graham Lake Improvement District (GLID) completed a number of studies assessing the viability of treatment technologies for Graham Lake to meet the Surface Water Treatment Objectives. With support from the CVRD, GLID undertook a pilot study in 2022 that ultimately was able to successfully demonstrate the system could meet Surface Water Treatment Objectives.
In the final months leading up to conversion on Jan 1, 2023, the former GLID trustees and CVRD staff worked together to develop a financial model of the system. During this process, CVRD staff reviewed recent watermain construction costs as the relative age and construction of nearly the entire system indicated they were nearing replacement. GLID also received the updated cost estimate for the new treatment technology. Given the high costs associated with both of these separate projects, CVRD staff are projecting significant borrowing costs in the coming years for the system.
Please note: the below studies were conducted prior to the Comox Valley Regional District managing operations of this water system (Graham Lake Improvement District).
