The Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) has announced funding for the new Courtenay pump station.
The CVRD is using more than $13 million in funding ($8,455,267 received from the province, $1,346,855 from the federal government, and $3,565,016 of CVRD funds) for the construction of a new Courtenay pump station, upgrades to two other pump stations, and upgrades to an overland route from the Courtenay Pump Station to the Comox Valley Water Pollution Control Center.
“Our wastewater treatment infrastructure in the Comox Valley needs to work with the local environment and for people in the community,” said Ronna-Rae Leonard, MLA for Courtenay-Comox. “This investment from the province and federal government will mean our municipal wastewater infrastructure will work better and be more reliable and resilient to harsh weather in years to come.”
The new and upgraded system will be less vulnerable to damage by storms, as well as seismic events and be designed to serve people for years into the future. The project will also include a site mural by a K’ómoks First Nation artist.
The funding was announced by (federal) Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Sean Fraser, (provincial) Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Bowinn Ma, and Regional District Sewage Commission director Doug Hillian.
“This funding is a vital investment in our community’s safety and resilience,” said Hillian, in an email to the Record. “We can now upgrade the sewer pump station to withstand seismic activity and sea level rise, thereby protecting our infrastructure and ensuring the well-being of Comox Valley residents for years to come