Project Summary
Work to expand service from the Gibsons Aquifer to water Zone 3, which covers most of Upper Gibsons, was completed in summer 2020. As a result, the Town’s three water zones are now primarily served by the Gibsons Aquifer. Previously, Zone 3 was supplied through a bulk water agreement with the Sunshine Coast Regional District.
The Town provides the average daily demand and maximum daily demand to Zone 3 from the Gibsons Aquifer but still relies on the SCRD for peak hour water use, emergency storage and fire flow. The new system is expected to reduce the Town’s reliance on the SCRD water supply by 95% to 98%.
As the Town will continue to rely on SCRD water from time to time, and as Vancouver Coastal Health does not allow dilution of chlorinated water by an unchlorinated water source, the Town is required to chlorinate all water delivered to Zone 3 residents.
Budget
Expanding the Town’s water supply system cost approximately $3.62 million, with $3.32 million funded by debt. The cost savings from reduced water purchases from the SCRD are expected to fully offset these capital costs over time. Expenditures include the design and construction of a new pump station, drilling of a new production well, drilling of two new monitoring wells and the construction of a replacement watermain.
New Wells
In early 2019, two new monitoring wells were drilled in Lower Gibsons, which enable the Town to monitor the affect of the increased draw on the aquifer, as well as for saltwater intrusion due to climate change and sea level rise. Conservative estimates, based on regular reports from the Town’s existing monitoring wells, show that the aquifer is healthy and able to supply the required water volume for the build out of the Town.
A new supply well was also drilled in early 2019, but did not produce the amount of water required to expand the aquifer service. As a result, a new supply well (Well 6) has been drilled at the west end of Oceanmount Blvd, which does have sufficient capacity to allow reliable water service to Zone 3.
Replacement Watermain
In addition to the new wells, it was determined that a replacement watermain needed to be constructed on Reed Road between Payne Road and North Road. In order to facilitate the aquifer supply of Zone 3, this main needed to be twinned, providing the SCRD with one main and the Town with another.
More information:
Map of Water Zones 1, 2 and 3
01-15-2019: Coast Reporter – Well drilling begins for water service expansion
12-04-2018: Staff Report: Well Drilling Tender Award
03-20-2018: Staff Report: Zone 3 Water Supply Option
Protecting the Aquifer
2019-01-16 Letter to Area Residents re Dougall Park drilling
2019-01-22 Letter to Area Residents re S. Fletcher and Winegarden Park drilling
