A new water treatment plant will provide safe drinking water to residents in Parksville and Nanoose, British Columbia.
“I’m pleased that Canada’s historic infrastructure investments have resulted in an improved drinking water treatment system in Parksville and Nanoose,” said Catherine McKenna, minister of infrastructure and communities. “The Englishman River Water Service will protect public health by providing residents with a reliable supply of clean drinking water. It will also help keep the local river system cleaner. This project reflects our commitment to strengthening our communities now while laying the foundation for economic growth and a greener future.”
Construction of the plant started in 2017 and was completed in December 2019. The total cost of the project was $41.7 million, of which $12 million was provided by the provincial and federal governments. The Province of British Columbia and Government of Canada provided $3 million each through the New Building Canada Fund: Small Communities Fund. The Province of British Columbia and Government of Canada also provided $2,410,641 and $3,652,487 respectively through the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund.
“On behalf of the ERWS management board and the City of Parksville, I wish to express our appreciation of the significant funding support given to this project by the Province of British Columbia and the Government of Canada,” said Ed Mayne, mayor of the City of Parksville and chair of the Englishman River Water Service Management Board.
The Englishman River Water Service is a joint venture between the City of Parksville and the Regional District of Nanaimo. It was formed in 2011 to secure bulk water supply from the Englishman River for the residents of Parksville and the Nanoose Bay Peninsula Water Service Area.
The Englishman River Water Service project included the construction of a water treatment plant, with a capacity of 16 million litres per day, that complies with new water regulatory treatment standards. It also includes an in-river water supply intake, raw water pumping station, and transmission mains that supply homes and businesses in Parksville and the Nanoose Bay Peninsula Water Service Area with potable water.
