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 CRD and MLE Sewer Committee had prepared three options of various phasing of upgrades for the community to consider. This information was presented at an Open House on April 27, 2019 and Option 1, (to borrow up to $6 million) was approved by electors at a referendum held on November 23, 2019.

The general scope of Option 1 includes:

• Improvements at Schooner WWTP:

• Sewage screen and grit removal
• New equalization tank
• Electrical upgrades including a standby generator
• Renew 3 Pump Stations (Buccaneer, Galleon and Schooner)
• Pipe Replacement:
• Replace 4.6km of failing asbestos cement pipe
• Install a 0.75km forcemain for future Cannon Pump Station

Grant Application

The second intake of the Green Infrastructure – Investing in Canada Program was announced in the fall of 2019. The CRD has submitted an application for about $5.65 million funding that would enable most all of the work identified in Phase 1, 2 and 3 to be completed (see slides 11-15 on the Open House information boards for a description of Phase 1, 2 and 3). The Province has indicated that results of the grant applications could be announced by Spring 2021. If a grant is received, then Phase 1, 2 and 3 can be completed from 2021 to 2024. If the grant is not received, then only Phase 1 will be completed in by the end of 2022.

Meanwhile, until the outcome of the grant is known, the Committee directed staff to proceed with replacing about 3km of sewer pipe.

Current Status of the Sewer Replacement Project

In 2020, CRD retained Stantec to design and tender about 3km of sewer pipe replacement. The design was completed and the tender closed on February 3, 2021. A contract was awarded to the lowest bidder Triahn Enterprises Ltd.

Triahn has provided a tentative schedule and work plan and pipe installation will start around mid-April and is tentatively anticipated to be completed by the end of 2021.  Information letters will be provided to the homeowners as the work advances into each specific area.