Bay Avenue Pump Station Upgrades

The Bay Avenue Sewer Pump Station, located adjacent to 385 Bay Avenue in Parksville, BC, conveys about 85% of the City of Parksville's wastewater to the French Creek Pollution Control Centre.

The Bay Avenue Sewer Pump Station was originally constructed in 1978 and upgraded in 1997 and 2003. It must be upgraded again to increase pumping capacity and meet the current standards for Flood Construction Levels to protect critical electrical and control system components at the pump station and mitigate a potential environmental release.

The current approved budget is $6.4 million including engineering fees and construction.

How you can get involved!

To stay informed of project updates, please:

  • Sign-up to receive enewsletters by clicking the register or subscribe tab. By registering you will be kept up-to-date with progress on this project through our electronic communication.
  • Explore this page to find out more.

The Bay Avenue Sewer Pump Station, located adjacent to 385 Bay Avenue in Parksville, BC, conveys about 85% of the City of Parksville's wastewater to the French Creek Pollution Control Centre.

The Bay Avenue Sewer Pump Station was originally constructed in 1978 and upgraded in 1997 and 2003. It must be upgraded again to increase pumping capacity and meet the current standards for Flood Construction Levels to protect critical electrical and control system components at the pump station and mitigate a potential environmental release.

The current approved budget is $6.4 million including engineering fees and construction.

How you can get involved!

To stay informed of project updates, please:

  • Sign-up to receive enewsletters by clicking the register or subscribe tab. By registering you will be kept up-to-date with progress on this project through our electronic communication.
  • Explore this page to find out more.

  • Beach Access Update

    The RDN is happy to announce that the beach access is now open.

    The contractor has installed a temporary wooden railing at the beach access. There will be a short-duration closure to the beach access in the next couple of months to replace the wooden railing with a permanent metal railing.

    Thank you for you continued patience while we complete the upgrade to the Bay Avenue Pump Station.

  • Construction Update

    Paving is now complete. Installation of the site gate and fencing is underway. Due to unforeseen challenges experienced during commissioning, beach access via the new stairway is delayed. Access is now expected to be available by the end of May 2024.

  • Construction Update

    Construction on the pumpstation is nearly complete.

    • Final commissioning of the pump station is underway now.
    • Paving and site restoration are scheduled for the spring.
    • The beach access via the new stairway is expected to be available in mid-April 2024.

    We appreciate your patience and understanding during this important upgrade.

  • Construction Update

    Additional challenges onsite have delayed construction. Completion of the project is now expected by the end of November 2023. The RDN appreciates the continued cooperation and understanding of area residents while the pump station is upgraded to improve capacity and safety.

  • Construction Update

    Continued delays on delivery of electrical and controls components have further extended the project timeline. Commissioning of the new wet well is postponed until May 2023. Completion of the project expected in August 2023. New photos are added to the gallery.

  • Construction Update

    The project will reach a milestone in March when wastewater flows will be redirected to the expansion wet well and we will start operating with the new control system. This will allow the renovation of the existing wet well to begin.

    We recognize that the temporary loss of the beach access is inconvenient. The beach access is expected to be available to the public by the end of June 2023. The size and location of the construction site makes the work difficult to complete quickly. This, combined with labour shortages and supply chain issues, have lengthened the timeline. Our contractors and engineers are working hard and construction is progressing steadily.

    New photos are available in the gallery.

  • Construction Timeline Update

    The construction timeline for this project is extended. Beach access will continue to be unavailable until the end of construction. Please follow the signs posted on site.

  • Construction begins July 19, 2021

    Construction on this project begins July 19, 2021 and will continue for about one year. Please note that public beach access from Bay Avenue will not be available during the construction period.

  • Contract for Construction Services Awarded

    At the RDN Regular Board Meeting on May 25, 2021, the RDN Board awarded the construction contract to Coast Utility Contracting for $4,594,348.

  • Contract for Detailed Design Awarded

    At the RDN Regular Board Meeting on October 22, 2019, the RDN Board awarded the contract for detailed design for the Bay Avenue Sewer Pump Station Upgrade to Koers & Associates Engineering for $454,847 (Motion 19-413).

Page last updated: 10 Oct 2025, 12:36 PM