North Cowichan

Since 2010, North Cowichan has supplied water to the community of Chemainus via the Chemainus River aquifer between October 15 and June 15, and from the Banon Creek surface reservoir between June 15 and October 15. Each year, this requires a switch-over between two water systems and has resulted in numerous summer boil water advisories. In 2015, North Cowichan applied to the BC Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) for permission to withdraw water for the community from the Chemainus River aquifer year-round. In April 2018, EAO granted North Cowichan an amendment to its Environmental Assessment Certificate to allow year-round operation of the Chemainus Wells Project. Since then, North Cowichan has been pursuing the required permission under the Water Sustainability Act. Detailed background on this project is available here.