River’s Edge Water Quality Improvement Project

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Background

The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) owns and operates the River’s Edge Water Service Area (REWSA), located off Kaye Road, in Electoral Area G, to the southeast of Parksville, B.C. To address the increasing trend of saltiness in the local groundwater aquifer, the RDN has embarked on the River's Edge Water Quality Improvement Project, a project that will involve drilling four to five new water supply wells and installing transmission mains and related infrastructure. The RDN carried out extensive public engagement in 2024, leading up to a petition process being held to gain electoral assent for the borrowing required to fund the project. The petition received overwhelming support from the residents in the REWSA and the RDN Board of Directors officially adopted Borrowing Bylaw No. 1914 on January 14, 2025.

Well Drilling

Four groundwater production wells were drilled in River's Edge in the early 2000's (PW01-PW04). Four to five new production wells are expected to be drilled in 2025 (PW05-PW09) as shown in the image below. The well drilling locations were recommended by the project hydrogeologist based on the thickness of the local aquifer, distance of the wells from each other, groundwater flow direction, and reviewing the available groundwater quality information.

Each well site requires approximately 375 sq. meters of clearing to accommodate drilling and construction activities. Signage is posted at both ends of the park trails to notify park users of any temporary trail closures. A small section of trail has been re-aligned at well PW07, as shown in the image below.

The RDN plans to register statutory right of ways (SRWs) at each well site, contingent on the well at each site producing sufficient water quantity and quality. In the case of an unproductive or poor water quality well, the REWSA project funds will be used to restore the site to previous or better condition than it was and will compensate Parks Services for tree planting and trail restoration as required. The proposed SRWs at the well sites would not be registered at the Land Title Office until after construction and legal surveys have been completed.

Costs to Property Owners

The well drilling project is being funded by the 157 property owners in the River’s Edge Water Service Area. The final amount owing will depend on the lending rate in place at the time of borrowing. Lending rates tend to fluctuate from year to year, and the project will take more than one year to complete from its start date. Using an estimated Municipal Finance Authority lending rate of 4.6% and a 25-year amortization period would result in a cost of $15,546 per property, or an estimated annual debt repayment of $1,110 for each of the 157 properties in the River’s Edge Water Service Area.

No project costs will be payable by the River’s Edge property owners until the well drilling and connection mains have been constructed and all costs have been accounted for. Owners will be given the option to pay their share of the project costs as a lump sum (to avoid interest charges) or to amortize the amount on their taxes for 25 years.

Once the debt amount has been added to a property's tax roll, it cannot be removed or paid off early. It will stay as a water quality improvement charge on the property for the stated repayment period of 25 years (i.e., even if the property is sold).

For more information and to Get Involved:

  • Visit our What's New updates that will share information on this page as the project moves forward.
  • Explore the document library on this webpage to find out more about the proposed water quality protection project.
  • Stay informed by clicking on subscribe, to leave your email address and receive email updates as the project moves forward.
  • Check out the FAQ's which provide answers to common questions on the proposed project;
  • Ask a question and we will do our best to answer it and share the information with all.

Background

The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) owns and operates the River’s Edge Water Service Area (REWSA), located off Kaye Road, in Electoral Area G, to the southeast of Parksville, B.C. To address the increasing trend of saltiness in the local groundwater aquifer, the RDN has embarked on the River's Edge Water Quality Improvement Project, a project that will involve drilling four to five new water supply wells and installing transmission mains and related infrastructure. The RDN carried out extensive public engagement in 2024, leading up to a petition process being held to gain electoral assent for the borrowing required to fund the project. The petition received overwhelming support from the residents in the REWSA and the RDN Board of Directors officially adopted Borrowing Bylaw No. 1914 on January 14, 2025.

Well Drilling

Four groundwater production wells were drilled in River's Edge in the early 2000's (PW01-PW04). Four to five new production wells are expected to be drilled in 2025 (PW05-PW09) as shown in the image below. The well drilling locations were recommended by the project hydrogeologist based on the thickness of the local aquifer, distance of the wells from each other, groundwater flow direction, and reviewing the available groundwater quality information.

Each well site requires approximately 375 sq. meters of clearing to accommodate drilling and construction activities. Signage is posted at both ends of the park trails to notify park users of any temporary trail closures. A small section of trail has been re-aligned at well PW07, as shown in the image below.

The RDN plans to register statutory right of ways (SRWs) at each well site, contingent on the well at each site producing sufficient water quantity and quality. In the case of an unproductive or poor water quality well, the REWSA project funds will be used to restore the site to previous or better condition than it was and will compensate Parks Services for tree planting and trail restoration as required. The proposed SRWs at the well sites would not be registered at the Land Title Office until after construction and legal surveys have been completed.

Costs to Property Owners

The well drilling project is being funded by the 157 property owners in the River’s Edge Water Service Area. The final amount owing will depend on the lending rate in place at the time of borrowing. Lending rates tend to fluctuate from year to year, and the project will take more than one year to complete from its start date. Using an estimated Municipal Finance Authority lending rate of 4.6% and a 25-year amortization period would result in a cost of $15,546 per property, or an estimated annual debt repayment of $1,110 for each of the 157 properties in the River’s Edge Water Service Area.

No project costs will be payable by the River’s Edge property owners until the well drilling and connection mains have been constructed and all costs have been accounted for. Owners will be given the option to pay their share of the project costs as a lump sum (to avoid interest charges) or to amortize the amount on their taxes for 25 years.

Once the debt amount has been added to a property's tax roll, it cannot be removed or paid off early. It will stay as a water quality improvement charge on the property for the stated repayment period of 25 years (i.e., even if the property is sold).

For more information and to Get Involved:

  • Visit our What's New updates that will share information on this page as the project moves forward.
  • Explore the document library on this webpage to find out more about the proposed water quality protection project.
  • Stay informed by clicking on subscribe, to leave your email address and receive email updates as the project moves forward.
  • Check out the FAQ's which provide answers to common questions on the proposed project;
  • Ask a question and we will do our best to answer it and share the information with all.

  • Well Drilling Update - September 2025

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    Thank you for your cooperation over the summer months during the well drilling and testing.

    Work Completed

    The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) completed the well drilling and well screen development of four new groundwater wells at the locations shown in the map image below. Twenty-four-hour pumping tests of PW06 and PW07 were completed in early September 2025, and the twenty-four-hour pumping tests of the other two wells, PW05 and PW08 will be completed by mid-September 2025. The long-term continuous and sustainable pumping test rate (safe yield) from each well will be determined after the completion of all the pumping tests. Based on the safe yield from each well, an appropriate well pump and motor will be ordered and installed.

    The preliminary analyses, based on the completed twenty-four-hour pumping tests of PW06 and PW07 and the short pumping tests of PW05 and PW08, show that the safe yield of PW06 would be approximately 30 United States Gallons Per Minute (USGPM) and the other three wells would be approximately 5 USGPM each. Since the RDN's initial plan was to withdraw a total of 60 USGPM from these new wells, this leaves a shortfall of approximately 10-15 USGPM production rate. To accommodate this shortfall, an additional well will be drilled, PW09.

    Next Steps

    PW09 will be drilled at one of the RDN's existing well sites, PW01, near 2260 Peterson Road (see photo below). The existing wells at this site were completed in the lower aquifer and they are only being used for monitoring purposes. The new well at this site will be completed in the middle aquifer layer where the good drinking water source is located. Considering there is already a transmission main installed at this site which could be connected to the new well, and the RDN has a utility right-of-way at this site requiring almost no additional site preparation for the new well, PW09 can be drilled and brought into operation within the existing budget. Additionally, having PW09 drilled as part of the ongoing drilling project reduces the contractor's mobilization and demobilization costs allowing the drilling, development and pumping tests to be completed at the competitive tender rate obtained for the other four wells. The drilling, development and pumping test of PW09 is planned to be completed by October 31, 2025.

    The RDN is also in the process of retaining an engineering consultant to provide survey, design and construction supervision for the civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation and control/automation aspect of the transmission mains and well site infrastructure for all of the wells completed in this project. The construction of this phase is tentatively planned to begin in the summer of 2026.

  • Well Drilling to Begin June 30, 2025

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    Date: June 30 to September 30, 2025

    Time: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

    Well drilling will begin on June 30, 2025 at the PW05 Peterson Road site (please see the map below for well drilling sites). One well is expected to be drilled at each of the four prospective well sites between June 30 and September 30, 2025.

    The well drilling crew will move from PW05 to PW06, then PW07 and lastly PW08. Once the wells are drilled, the crew will move between each site to complete other drilling activities such as setting the well screens, and carrying out the pump tests, etc.

    The well drilling is not expected to affect park users, however, for your safety and the safety of the work crew, please remain alert to work activities and obey any posted signs. While low levels of construction noise from the well drilling equipment can be expected, there will be no disruption to local traffic.

    For more information, please contact:

    Water Services, Regional District of Nanaimo

    Ph. 250-248-4914

    Email rcu@rdn.bc.ca

  • Site Clearing in Park Land Continuing

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    Date: May 9 - 16, 2025 (including the weekend)
    Time: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
    Trail Closure: May 9 - 16, 2025 at Kaye River’s Edge Community Park

    As part of the Well Drilling Project, site clearing will continue to take place at the four well drilling sites in River’s Edge, as identified on the site map below. The tree-falling work is complete, and the next step is to remove the tree stumps, clear the brush and level the soil at the well sites.

    Brush-clearing at the sites of PW05, PW06 and PW08 will not affect park users, however, the park trail at site PW07 will be temporarily closed for five to seven days while stump removal is underway. The temporary park trail closure will be marked with signs at both entrances to the trail. As part of the well site preparation, the trail will be realigned temporarily near PW07 to ensure that park use may safely resume.

    Brush-clearing and stump removal work is expected to begin on Monday, May 12, 2025, and will take place during daylight hours. Intermittent noise from a small excavator can be expected. No interruption to traffic flow on the roadway is expected. For your safety and the safety of the work crew, please remain alert to work activities and obey any posted signs.

  • Site Clearing: April to May 2025

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    A permit to construct water utilities in RDN park land is being reviewed by the RDN Board and RDN Parks Department. Once issued, the Parks Use Permit (PUP) will outline the requirements for site clearing and tree replacement. Site clearing is expected to take place from April to May 2025. Project updates will be made on this webpage at each project milestone. Please consider signing up for e-newsletter updates.

  • Sufficient support via petition for borrowing bylaw No. 1914 has been received from the residents of the River's Edge Water Service Area

    Share Sufficient support via petition for borrowing bylaw No. 1914 has been received from the residents of the River's Edge Water Service Area on Facebook Share Sufficient support via petition for borrowing bylaw No. 1914 has been received from the residents of the River's Edge Water Service Area on Twitter Share Sufficient support via petition for borrowing bylaw No. 1914 has been received from the residents of the River's Edge Water Service Area on Linkedin Email Sufficient support via petition for borrowing bylaw No. 1914 has been received from the residents of the River's Edge Water Service Area link

    The petition to authorize funding for the River's Edge Water Quality Improvement Project under borrowing bylaw No. 1914 has received sufficient support from residents to move forward. This information was presented to the RDN Board at the October 22, 2024 Board meeting. To view the Board agenda and minutes, click on the date of the meeting at: rdn.bc.ca/agendas-minutes-videos.

    Final approval from the BC Inspector of Municipalities and the RDN Board of Directors is now required for the borrowing bylaw to be officially adopted, at which point construction is expected to begin in 2025. The RDN appreciates all feedback and cooperation received from the residents of the River's Edge Water Service Area throughout the petition process.

Page last updated: 16 Sep 2025, 02:24 PM