Supplemental Water Supply for Eastbourne

Due to lower-than-normal aquifer levels, the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) is providing supplemental water supply to the Eastbourne Water System on Keats Island.

Starting today, water will be transported to Keats Island by barge and distributed to residents through the existing system.

To coordinate this work, the SCRD has activated a Level 1 Emergency Operations Centre (EOC). Having an EOC in place allows the SCRD to draw on additional resources should they be needed.

Background
SCRD staff have been closely monitoring the aquifer that supplies the 173 water service connections on the Eastbourne Water System. Aquifer levels are currently lower than normal for this time of year.

The amount of water required for the Eastbourne community usually drops after the Labour Day long weekend. Ahead of this, the SCRD is taking proactive measures to ensure adequate water supply is available through late August and into September.

Meetings and Upcoming Projects
Earlier this month, SCRD General Manager of Infrastructure Services Remko Rosenboom met with the Eastbourne community to provide an update on the Eastbourne Water System and upcoming projects.

Engineering and design work is underway to advance plans for two test wells that could provide additional water supply and reduce pressure on the existing system. Further information, including project timelines, will be available once the required contracted services have been secured through the SCRD’s public procurement process.

Coming Weeks
Residents connected to the Eastbourne Water System will not experience a change in their regular water service as a result of this supplemental supply.

The SCRD is drawing treated water from the Regional Water System, of which the Eastbourne Water System is a participant, transporting it to Keats Island and transferring into the Eastbourne system at the wellfield location. The supplemental water supply will then be treated and distributed through the existing systems in accordance with Vancouver Coastal Health requirements.

The transportation of supplemental water is being coordinated through a contractor that has provided operational services for the Eastbourne Water System on behalf of the SCRD for several years.

Residents with questions about the supplemental water supply or the Eastbourne Water System are asked to contact the SCRD at infrastructure@scrd.ca

Further updates will be provided as needed.