Using green infrastructure to protect Comox’s water supply
Type of initiative
FCM Green Municipal Fund - Capital Project
Sector
Water
Project value$8,493,000
Project Type
Capital Project
Sub Sector
Water Conservation
Grant amount$886,215
Program type
GMF
Municipality
Town of Comox, BC
Loan amount$5,908,100
Status
In Progress
Population
14,806
Project timeline
2022 -
Project number
CPC-22-0007
Description
View Full application form for all details.
Located on the southern coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia (BC), the Town of Comox (TOC) provides 15,182 residents and countless tourists with access to water recreation. Unfortunately, TOC faces severe drought and water waste due to outdated technology and management practices. TOC implemented water conservation studies and analysis of stormwater management to create a pathway to exceed their 20% water reduction goal. TOC will combine technology and stormwater management with community and staff education and training and change management tactics to reduce water use. TOC receives water from Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD). The CVRD supplies water to three electoral areas, two municipalities, and K’omoks First Nation. The project will be TOC’s first phase to support CVRD’s water conservation goal, which is to reduce water use for non-agricultural resources by 50% by 2050.
Located on the southern coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia (BC), the Town of Comox (TOC) provides 15,182 residents and countless tourists with access to water recreation. Unfortunately, TOC faces severe drought and water waste due to outdated technology and management practices. TOC implemented water conservation studies and analysis of stormwater management to create a pathway to exceed their 20% water reduction goal. TOC will combine technology and stormwater management with community and staff education and training and change management tactics to reduce water use. TOC receives water from Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD). The CVRD supplies water to three electoral areas, two municipalities, and K’omoks First Nation. The project will be TOC’s first phase to support CVRD’s water conservation goal, which is to reduce water use for non-agricultural resources by 50% by 2050.
Smart Universal Water Meter Infrastructure (SUWMI): According to Brock University, cities that are metered use 45% less water compared to unmetered municipalities. Unmetered communities use 75% more water than fully metered ones. Yet, cities in BC lack the financial capacity to implement universal metering. TOC has 50% of residential units metered but aims to achieve 100%. Funding will allow TOC to meet municipal and provincial water conservation goals. Engineering analysis shows that TOC could greatly alleviate drought by conserving at least 20% of its water use through SUWMI—a conservative estimate. TOC expects water savings to increase beyond 20% as residents become incentivized (through a ratchet and volumetric water rate system and community awareness) to change water demand behavior through this proposed project.
Climate Station and Infrastructure Refinement: Heightened information on water supply is required to create a roadmap for TOC to reach their goals. A climate station will support TOC with exceeding their 20% water conservation goal through more efficient drought and flooding detection. TOC will collect data on precipitation, hourly rainfall, and daily evaporation to generate recorded climate data to compare against pre-development models and annual performance targets. The station will complement metering technology to allow TOC to accurately and readily manage restrictions tied to water use among agricultural, residential, and commercial water users.
Stormwater Management: TOC identified the airport as a critical area to preserving their water supply. The Town’s airport grounds traditionally face flooding and erosion negatively impacts the area’s water supply. An infiltration gallery and detention pool at its airport will alleviate flooding and harmful runoff while efficiently conserving rainwater needed to mitigate drought. This component is critical in preserving water quality by preventing downstream erosion into adjacent rivers, lakes, and streams.
Promoting Behavioral Modification: Community education on water conservation technology, implementing a water smart campaign, and executing change management tactics will be used alongside technology to support increased water conservation. Hired subcontractors will upskill TOC’s staff on the project’s operations to sustain scope. Education will target municipal, business, and residential stakeholders per TOC’s approved and attached community engagement plan. TOC will focus on residential water conservation and use by also creating a low-flow toilet rebate program.
Applicant
Town of Comox, BC