Description

The Capital Regional District is working with the Magic Lake Estates Water and Sewer Local Services Committee to address the issues facing the aging and failing sewer infrastructure in Magic Lake Estate (MLE).

The condition of the MLE wastewater infrastructure has been documented in past reports and presented at a number of Public Open Houses held on November 22, 2014, June 6, 2015, and February 27, 2016.

In March 2016, the Electors of the MLE sewer system approved borrowing of $1.53 million to complete the following projects:

• Construction of Chart Drive Pump Station and Forcemain
• Construction of 430m of replacement sewer along the south-east side of Buck Lake
• Condition assessment of the Schooner Wastewater Treatment Plant aeration tank
• Video inspection and condition assessment of all the sewer pipes

Upon successfully completing the above projects in 2018, a comprehensive list of all other remaining infrastructure projects were identified that need to be repaired or replaced in order to comply with Ministry of Environment permits. Three options for completing all other remaining projects under various phases was presented to the community at an Open House on April 27, 2019. Approximately 125 people attended the Open House and 133 Feedback Form were received. A copy of the Open House Display Boards and the Public Feedback Summary Report are attached (under Additional Resources).

The MLE Sewer Committee directed staff to proceed to a referendum for Option 1 (to complete $6 million in upgrades), and to submit a grant application for $5.65 million (to complete a majority of the remaining upgrades). About 85% voted in favour of borrowing $6 million at the November 23, 2019 referendum. The CRD proceeded to design and construct about 3km of sewer pipe replacement while waiting for the outcome of the $5.65 million grant application.

Green Infratructure - Investing in Canada Program Grant

In February 2020, the CRD submitted an application under the Green Infrastructure – Investing in Canada Program for $5.65 million in funding that would enable most all of the $12 million work presented at the April 27, 2019 Open House to be completed (see slides 11-15 on the Open House information boards). On September 22, 2021, the grant application was approved.

Current Status and Next Steps for Proposed Upgrades

For a description of scope of work for the upgrades see slides 11-15 on the Open House Information Boards. Please note that the $6 million referendum and $5.65 million grant is just shy of the total scope, so not all of the sewer pipe replacement may be completed.

In 2020, CRD retained Stantec to design and tender about 3km of sewer pipe replacement. The design was completed and the tender closed in February 2021. A contract was awarded to Triahn Enterprises Ltd. and they commenced with construction in May and should be substantially complete by November 2021. Information letters have been provided to home owners in the various areas of work as the work advanced. Some restoration work may be completed later and/or touched up as weather permits.

The next steps and tentative schedule for the proposed upgrades are as follows:

Further updates to our website will be provided as the design and construction work advances.