Drinking Water
Drinking water on Salt Spring Island comes from a variety of sources: CRD-operated water services, local Improvement Districts and private water systems.
Neither local Improvement Districts nor private systems are operated or supported by the CRD.
To determine if you are within a CRD or Water Improvement District service area, see the water services map. If you are outside these areas, you are on a private system.
Please report problems such as leaks or suspected leaks as soon as possible to conserve our water supply.
CRD Water Services
CRD Environmental Services operates six water systems in the Salt Spring Island Electoral Area, and is responsible for water supply, treatment and delivery in those service areas.
The CRD works in partnership with local service committees who establish policies for the operation of the service and recommend user fees, levels of taxes and other charges for the service to the CRD board.
For information about the CRD's administrative relationship with any of these CRD water services, see the service committee pages.
Beddis Water Service
This service provides a water supply and distribution system for the Beddis subdivision on the east side of Salt Spring Island. About 143 lots are included. The service was formerly the Beddis Waterworks Improvement District until joining the CRD in 2004.
The service is administered by Beddis Water Service Commission.
Contact:
North Salt Spring Waterworks District
250.537.9902
Cedar Lane Water Service
This service was passed over to the CRD from a local improvement district in the spring of 2007. It will provide a well water supply and distribution service to residents of the Cedar Lane service area. About 38 properties will be included in the service.
A bylaw was passed by the CRD in the fall of 2007 to enable this service to be administered by the Cedar Lane Water Service Committee.
Contact the Saanich Peninsula Control Centre for assistance.
Cedars of Tuam Water Service
This service provides a water supply, based on a well, for sixteen lots in the Isabella Point area. The service was an improvement district until joining the CRD in 2003.
The service is administrated by Cedars of Tuam Water Local Services Commission.
Contact the Saanich Peninsula Control Centre for assistance.
Fernwood Water Service
This service provides a small water supply system for Fernwood, a rural development between St. Mary Lake and Tricomali Channel and for North Beach, a subdivision adjacent to the Fernwood subdivision. Funding for the service is provided by a parcel tax and user fees.
The service is administered by the Fernwood Water Local Services Commission.
Contact the Saanich Peninsula Control Centre for assistance.
Fulford Harbour Water Service
This service provides a water supply and distribution facilities to residents in the Fulfurd rural subdivision. Fulford was formerly an improvement district which joined the CRD in 2004. About 101 lots take part in the service. The system relies on surface water drawn from Weston Lake.
The service is administered by the Fulford Water Service Commission.
Contact
North Salt Spring Waterworks District
250.537.9902
Highland Water Service
This service provides a water supply for the rural development of Highland Estates on St. Mary Lake and Maliview Estates on Trincomali Channel. The subdivisions are adjacent. The service is supported by a parcel tax and user fees. About 254 lots are involved in the service.
The service is administered by the Highland Water and Sewer Local Services Commission.
Contact the Saanich Peninsula Control Centre for assistance.
Water Improvement Districts
Improvement Districts are small water systems operated on an individual basis by primarily volunteer run organizations. These organizations were established by the Province of BC and empowered to carry out the necessary administration and operation of the water system. The systems see bacterial testing regularly by the Vancouver Island Health Authority, and may be subject to further testing by the improvement district operator.
To contact your Improvement District
- First see your water bill for contact information
- If you don't have access to a bill, talk to your neighbour
- Finally, contact the Province of BC
- Tel: 1.800.663.7867 or use the
- Online Directory
Private Water Systems
If you have a private well, maintenance and water testing is your responsibility.
Problems with your well system should be referred to one of the many groundwater drilling contractors listed in the yellow pages.
© Image courtesy of Mary Sanseverino