FAQs

• Substantially lower cost for a Town of Ladysmith (ToL) interconnection versus a stand-alone treatment plant
• The ToL facility is fully operational.  The ToL operators are proficient with the technology which provides superior water treatment and meets/exceeds the Surface Water Treatment Objectives
• Operation and maintenance costs are well understood
• A single, state-of-the-art integrated system offers greater long-term cost efficiency and sustainability compared to operating and maintaining two stand alone systems
• The technology is modular and can be easily be scaled to account for future growth
• The high-pressure supply line from Stocking Lake to the Saltair treatment facility- approximately 3.5 km in length- will become redundant, avoiding an estimated $5-7 million replacement cost 

Yes, Island Health Authority is fully supportive of this proposal.  The Town of Ladysmith treatment facility produces very high quality water that is fully compliant with drinking water standards.  

• A Construction permit from Island Health will be required and will be applied for during the design phase.   
• A building permit and a permit for works within the road right-of-way for the interconnection building will be applied for from the Town of Ladysmith
• Approval from the grant funders confirming funding may be used for the interconnection works
• Additional permits and approvals may be required as the project advances

The regional district’s funding structure follows a user‑pay model, meaning only those who directly benefit from a service contribute to its costs. For the Saltair Water System, this means customers are responsible for funding system maintenance, operations, asset management, and upgrades.

The cost of the required treatment upgrade, if borne solely by Saltair Water System customers, would have resulted in significantly higher user rates. Pilot studies and feasibilities studies were performed with potential treatment options for a stand-alone treatment plant for Saltair that exposed several shortcomings in the treatment design.  The result was escalated costs which would have resulted in large customer charges thereby causing substantial delays.  

To reduce this financial impact, CVRD staff pursued external grant funding. Grant programs, however, are open only at specific times and are highly competitive, with most local governments across B.C. submitting applications.

The CVRD submitted three grant applications in total: one in 2016, one in 2018, and one in 2020. The first two applications were unsuccessful, but the third was approved. The CVRD was notified of this successful award in late 2021.

Rising costs during the COVID‑19 pandemic, combined with engineering design challenges and licencing for the groundwater wells resulted in project delays and multiple re‑evaluations of system upgrade options to ensure the most cost‑effective solution for the community.

The hybrid groundwater & Ladysmith option will provide high quality treated groundwater supplemented with bulk water from the Town of Ladysmith.

The Town of Ladysmith’s water filtration plant treats surface water from Holland and Stocking Lakes to meet or exceed B.C. drinking water regulatory guidelines. 

The overall organics in the water will be lower which results in consistently better quality water. 

All the infrastructure (reservoir, treatment facility, distribution pipes) within the Saltair Water System service area will remain the ownership and responsibility of the CVRD.  

Water servicing applications review for development will resume when Island Health Authority rescinds the Order which is expected to happen as soon as the treatment objectives are met.

• The CVRD is continuing technical and financial work to refine the hybrid approach, including working with the Town of Ladysmith. Subject to formal approvals, the next phase would involve finalizing a bulk water supply agreement framework and confirming an implementation timeline. 

• The CVRD will continue to engage with the funding program regarding the implications of an updated and modified project scope.