Official Community Plan

C

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COURTENAY TODAY

While traditional municipal infrastructure – such as underground pipes and treatment facilities – is often hidden from public view, it's a complex system that forms a vital part of Courtenay’s urban system contributing to health, sustainability, and fiscal success of Courtenay. Examples include: • Courtenay’s water is provided by the CVRD, sourced from Comox Lake. A new water treatment facility in 2021 services Courtenay residents among others. • The City’s sewer utility infrastructure includes over 150 km of sanitary sewer mains and nearly 7,000 individual connections. Household and business wastewater is conveyed to the Comox Valley Water Pollution Control Centre, which is operated by the CVRD. • The City’s storm drainage infrastructure includes over 167 km of gravity mains, approximately 650 culverts, and over 7,000 service connections. In addition, there are over 45 km of City-maintained drainage ditches, 22 public storm ponds and 18 private storm ponds. Storm drainage from public and private land in the City drains into the Puntledge River, Tsolum River, Courtenay River, K'ómoks Estuary as well as Millard-Piercy Creek, Morrison Creek, Little River, Portuguese Creek, and Brooklyn Creek watersheds. • Solid waste curbside collection includes garbage, recycling, and yard waste. Additional recyclable materials can also be brought to the recycling depot located within Courtenay. A regional

organics composting facility is being established in Campbell River and will serve the Courtenay area in the near future. Other waste streams may be disposed of at the Comox Valley Waste Management Centre landfill. The Comox Strathcona Waste Management service reports that in 2021, industrial, commercial, institutional, and multi-residential garbage accounted for 55% of of the 21,500 tonnes of waste brought to the landfill, construction and demolition waste accounted for 25%, curbside garbage collected from residents (other than multi-residential) accounted for 19%, with the remaining 1% coming from other sources. Distributing water, treating wastewater, and collecting and treating solid waste all require energy efficient management. Under status quo (i.e., unchanged) management practices, this energy demand will continue to grow. Furthermore, like in all cities, the reliable functioning of this complex network of infrastructure in Courtenay is threatened by climate change impacts. For example, projected decreases in summer precipitation and winter snowfall may reduce water supplies in future summer months. Similarly, increasing risks of flooding, storm surges, saltwater ingress, extended drought conditions, and more frequent and severe winter storms and spring and fall rainfall events will add strain and threaten municipal infrastructure systems.

PART C Thematic Policies