DUNCAN, BC – The Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) is considering the acquisition of the Shawnigan Village Waterworks private water system from Lidstech Holdings Ltd., and will be holding a public meeting for current customers and interested residents to learn more.
The current owners of the water system are wishing to retire and approached the CVRD about purchasing the system. The CVRD engaged the services of an engineering consultant to complete a feasibility study, and it was determined that CVRD (public) ownership would provide the best option for long-term water sustainability for the community. A purchase agreement has been reached between the two parties, however final approval for the purchase is contingent on approval being granted by the customers of the system.
“The system is in good condition, and its proximity to other CVRD-operated water systems and future amalgamation possibilities are also major benefits for residents,” said Darcy Mooney, General Manager of Operations for the Cowichan Valley Regional District. “The CVRD can also apply for grants to fund system updates to keep rates more stable, and our team of utility operators, technologists and engineers bring a wealth of experience and knowledge.”
The purchase price of Shawnigan Village Waterworks is $3.2 million, and includes approximately $9 million worth of assets. As the purchase would require long-term borrowing, as per the Community Charter and Local Government Act, the CVRD is required to adopt a bylaw which must be approved by property owners of the system through either an Alternate Approval Process (AAP), petition process or Referendum. An AAP will likely be the method to obtain public approval for the CVRD acquisition of Shawnigan Village Waterworks.
A public meeting will be held on March 11, 2024 at the Shawnigan Community Centre in Shawnigan Lake from 7-9 p.m where customers and interested residents can learn more about the proposed acquisition.
The CVRD currently operates 20 water systems within the region, each with continuous electronic monitoring of all critical infrastructure, enabling an immediate response to a problem 24 hours per day, 7-days a week.
To learn more about the proposed acquisition of Shawnigan Village Waterworks, please visit www.planyourcowichan.ca
