The Comox Valley Regional District will be moving to its backup pump station from Jan. 29 to 31 while BC Hydro completes its seasonal fish screen cleaning. The backup station is located further downstream than the primary withdrawal location and is more susceptible to poor water quality during weather events.
The CVRD will monitor the situation. The community will be alerted should turbidity reach unacceptable levels, and if a boil water notice is recommended. High turbidity can interfere with the chlorination process used to disinfect drinking water for the 45,000 residents served by the Comox Valley water system.
To register for text message or voice mail notifications about boil water notices and other emergency notifications, visit www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/getnotified. Remember to choose the community in which you live and the Comox Valley Water Supply System (boil water) notification lists. No access to a computer? You can register by calling 250-334-6057.
Grant funding has been announced for a new water treatment system that will be fully operational by 2021. Once completed, the risk of turbidity-related boil water notices will be eliminated. The new system will draw water from Comox Lake, upstream of the BC Hydro Penstock, avoiding potential service disruptions during maintenance of Hydro infrastructure.
For more information about this project, visit www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/watertreatment