FAQs

The Capital Regional District (CRD) Regional Water Supply Strategic Plan is a long-term framework designed to ensure the sustainable management, maintenance, and protection of the region’s water supply and transmission system. It outlines key commitments, strategic priorities and actions that guide the CRD in delivering safe, high-quality drinking water to Greater Victoria residents. The plan helps address future water supply challenges, including population growth, climate change impacts and infrastructure needs. It also ensures that water services align with regional priorities and regulatory requirements.

The Strategic Plan focuses on medium-term actions for the next five to ten years with a long-term planning horizon extending to 2055.  

A strategic plan is essential to ensure the long-term security, reliability and sustainability of the Regional Water Supply System. Water is a critical resource and factors such as climate change, urban expansion and aging infrastructure require careful long-term planning.  This plan provides a structured approach to decision-making, ensuring that Greater Victoria residents continue to have access to safe, clean, and reliable drinkable water. By setting clear commitments and strategic actions, the plan allows the CRD to:

• Proactively address challenges such as water demand fluctuations, infrastructure, maintenance and emergency preparedness 
• Ensure regulatory compliance with health and safety guidelines for drinking water
• Plan for future investments in water infrastructure and watershed protection
• Promote conservation and sustainability through demand management strategies

The CRD Regional Water Supply Service provides wholesale drinking water to approximately 430,000 residents in Greater Victoria. Water is supplied to the following communities:

• Esquimalt
• Oak Bay
• Saanich
• Victoria
• Saanich Peninsula Water Service (Central Saanich, North Saanich and Sidney)
• Juan de Fuca Water System (View Royal, Colwood, Lanford, Metchosin, Highlands, Sooke and portions of East Sooke)
• Sc’ianew (Beecher Bay First Nation)
• x^Wsepsem (Esquimalt First Nation)

Additionally, First Nations communities receive water through various municipal distribution systems and the CRD ensures that the water delivered to these communities meets or exceeds Canadian drinking water standards.

The CRD updates the Regional Water Supply Strategic Plan approximately every five to ten years to ensure that it remains relevant and responsive to emerging environmental, technological and regulatory changes. The first plan was developed in 1999, with updates in 2004, 2012 and 2017.

The 2004 & 2012 updates focused on:

• Water quality and watershed protection
• Demand management in response to projected population growth
• Infrastructure planning and priorities

The 2017 update focused on:

• Infrastructure investment planning for long-term system resilience
• Climate change adaptation strategies
• Emergency and post-disaster water supply planning
• Planning for the use of the Leech Water Supply Area, our future water supply source

The 2025 update will focus on: 

• Building on previous efforts from past plans
• Implementing long-term planning efforts developed as part of the previous plan
• Continued focus on adapting to climate change, aging infrastructure and population growth
• Emergency preparedness, response and mitigation

Several natural and human-made factors can threaten the quality of the Regional Water Supply, including:

• Climate Change: Rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns and extreme weather events (such as droughts and heavy storms) can affect water availability and quality
• Wildfires: Fires in the watershed could introduce ash, debris and contaminants into the water supply
• Land Use Activities: Unauthorized activities in the watershed, such as recreation or development can introduce pollutants
• Infrastructure Challenges: Aging infrastructure can increase the risk of leaks or contamination

The CRD utilizes a multi-barrier approach to maintain high water quality standards. This approach ensures that drinking water is safe, clean and meets or exceeds regulatory standards. These measures work together to safeguard drinking water quality and ensure public health.

Key measures to ensure water quality include:

• Source Water Protection: The CRD protects the Sooke Lake Reservoir and watershed lands from contamination through strict land use policies, environmental management and management of access to the area
• Water Treatment: The water undergoes primary disinfection using ultraviolet (UV) light and secondary disinfection using chloramination, which provides long-lasting protection as the water travels through the transmission system
• Regular Monitoring & Sampling: Water quality is continuously monitored at key points throughout the system and water samples are tested for microbiological, chemical and physical parameters to ensure compliance with the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality
• Infrastructure Maintenance: The CRD ensures that water transmission infrastructure is properly maintained to prevent contamination and service disruptions
• Cross-connection control: The CRD implements a cross-connection control program to prevent backflow contamination and protect the drinking water supply from potential pollutants 

The Strategic Plan only applies to the CRD’s Regional Water Supply System and does not cover private wells, which operate independently under provincial regulations. Private well owners are responsible for maintaining their wells, testing water quality and ensuring compliance with provincial regulations. 

The CRD encourages well owners to:

• Test water regularly for contaminants such as bacteria and nitrates
• Follow best practices for well maintenance and protection
• Report any concerns about groundwater contamination to the appropriate provincial authorities

The CRD Regional Water Supply Service is responsible for sourcing, treating and transmitting bulk drinking water to municipalities and First Nations and managing key infrastructure such as reservoirs, treatment plants and large transmission mains.  Once water from the Regional Water Supply reaches municipal boundaries or bulk water meters, local municipalities are responsible for the water supply through their distribution systems. Municipal distribution services are responsible for local water mains, fire hydrants, meters, delivery of water to homes and businesses and water conservation programs and regulations.

NOTE: The CRD directly manages and is the municipal provider for the Juan de Fuca Water Distribution System, which serves all Westshore communities, including: View Royal, Colwood, Langford, Metchosin, Highlands, Sooke and portions of the Juan de Fuca Electoral Area.

The CRD is committed to ensuring a sustainable and reliable water supply for future generations. The Regional Water Supply Strategic Plan includes several key initiatives to balance current and future water demands including:

Water Conservation & Demand Management: The CRD promotes water conservation programs, sets long-term water use targets and develops policies to optimize water supply. These initiatives help reduce unnecessary water use and ensure that existing resources are used efficiently.

Infrastructure Investments: The CRD is upgrading treatment facilities, transmission systems and reservoirs to improve the system’s capacity and efficiency. These improvements help ensure that water can be reliably delivered to meet current and future demands.

Watershed Management: Protecting source water is a top priority. The CRD is implementing wildfire prevention programs, enhancing forest resilience strategies and strengthening biosecurity measures to protect water quality at its source.

Future Water Sources: The Leech Water Supply Area is being prepared as a future supplemental water source. Based on climate change modeling and population growth projections, it is expected that additional sources of water may be needed by 2045.

Assessing Water Supply Capacity & Land Acquisition: The CRD continues to evaluate the maximum capacity of existing water sources and assess potential land acquisitions to expand the long-term water supply beyond 2055 if necessary.

By implementing the above strategies, the CRD is ensuring that future generations will have a safe and reliable water supply, despite climate change and regional growth.

Residents play a key role in helping to protect and conserve the region’s water supply. Some of the best ways to reduce water consumption include:

• Checking for and Repairing Leaks: A small leak can waste thousands of liters of water per year
• Installing Water-Efficient Fixtures & Appliances: Look for low-flow showerheads, toilets and ENERGY STAR-certified dishwashers and washing machines
• Follow Seasonal Watering Restrictions: Outdoor watering uses a significant amount of water; by following watering schedules and restrictions you help conserve water throughout the dry months
• Reducing Outdoor Water Use: Plant drought-resistant plants and use rain barrels or drip irrigation to help reduce your outdoor water use
• Being Mindful of Daily Water Use: Simple actions, such as turning off the tap while brushing teeth or running full loads of laundry and dishes, can make a significant difference

For more tips and tricks on how to conserve water, visit our resource page. 

Yes, climate change has a direct impact on the region’s water supply and requires proactive management. Climate change was expected to most influence the wildfire, drought, and aquatic invasive species threats due to warmer temperatures and longer dry spells. Some key climate-related challenges include:

Changing Precipitation Patterns: More rainfall may come in short, intense periods rather than being evenly distributed throughout the year, affecting reservoir levels. In addition, this also can result increased turbidity in the source water as a result of more intense runoff. 

Increased Drought Frequency: Longer dry seasons and higher temperatures can lead to reduced water availability in the summer months.

Increased Temperatures: Warm water temperatures can result in increased algal growth (depending on nutrient availability, a limiting factor). This increased algal growth may impact treatment processes and impacting water quality. 

Extreme Weather Events: Storms, flooding, and wildfires pose risks to water infrastructure and source water quality.

Climate change is an ongoing challenge, but the CRD is continuously updating its plans, infrastructure and policies to mitigate risks and ensure a resilient water supply.  The CRD is addressing climate related risks to our water supply by:

• Increasing the redundancy within our system by investigating the addition of a deep north intake
• Planning for the addition of filtration to enhance resiliency of the currently unfiltered water source in the event water quality is compromised as a result of wildfire, flood, landslides, contamination or algal blooms
• Improvements to the Goldstream secondary water sources to reduce reliance on a single supply of water during emergencies
• Enhancing reservoir storage capacity to better manage seasonal water fluctuations
• Mitigating the risk of wildfire by expanding wildfire prevention strategies and utilizing early detection technologies for wildfire including infrared technology and drone monitoring
• Implementing forest fuel management strategies, such as prescribed burning and selective thinning, to reduce fire hazards and strengthening biosecurity measures to prevent invasive species and pathogens that could harm water quality from entering the watersheds
• Implementing demand management strategies to ensure water use remains sustainable.
• Continuing to study and model climate change impacts to ensure that the water supply system remains resilient and sustainable for future generations

The Strategic Plan is a high-level framework that defines the commitments, priorities, and actions required to manage the water supply system over the next 5 to 10 years. It sets the policy direction for water management and outlines initiatives such as water conservation, watershed protection and emergency preparedness.

The Master Plan is a detailed, long-term infrastructure specific roadmap that extends to 2050. It identifies 21 major infrastructure projects necessary to meet population growth, climate change adaptation and water treatment needs.

The CRD strives to balance necessary infrastructure investments with financial responsibility to minimize impacts on water rates. The short and medium-term actions identified in the Strategic Plan are already included in the CRD’s operating and five-year capital plan. Costs for longer-term actions will be refined and budgeted in future years. Once determined, these costs will be incorporated into the annual budget through the CRD’s financial planning process. 

Each year the Regional Water Supply Commission and the CRD Board approve the operating and capital budget and associated bulk water rates. The budget approval process follows a structured governance model. CRD staff prepare budget recommendations based on operational needs, financial forecasts and funding sources. The Regional Water Supply Commission, consisting of elected officials from municipalities and electoral areas, reviews and recommends the budget. The final approval rests with the CRD Board, which ensures financial decisions align with long-term water management goals.

The CRD uses multiple funding sources to support infrastructure investments and operational needs. By leveraging these funding sources, the CRD minimizes financial impacts on ratepayers while ensuring necessary upgrades and maintenance are completed. Funding sources include:

Water User Rates: Charges paid by residents and businesses for water services

Development Cost Charges (DCCs): Fees collected from new developments to help fund water infrastructure expansion

Provincial and Federal Grants: The CRD actively seeks grant funding opportunities to offset costs

Reserve Funds and Borrowing: In some cases, the CRD may use financial reserves or borrowing to finance long-term capital projects

Public engagement ensures that residents are informed and that community concerns and priorities are reflected in decision-making. The CRD provides several ways for residents to stay up to date on the Strategic Plan, including:

Get Involved Platform: The most recent updates, reports and information about the Strategic Plan are available online on our Get Involved Platform

Email Notifications: Residents can subscribe to receive email notifications about the Strategic Plan through the Get Involved Platform

Virtual Information Session: Residents wishing to learn more about the Strategic Plan can join our online information session on March 6 @ 6 PM 

Pop-up Informational Booths: Between February 18-27, the public can learn more about the Strategic Plan through our community pop-up informational booths located at SEAPARC, Panorama and Esquimalt Recreation Centres

Social Media: Residents can follow us on our social media channels Facebook | X | Instagram | LinkedIn to see relevant posts about engagement opportunities related to the Strategic Plan

Newspaper: Ads will run in February in the Times Colonist and all local newspaper throughout the region notifying the public about engagement opportunities related to the Strategic Plan

The CRD encourages public participation in shaping the future of the Regional Water Supply system. By participating in public engagement efforts, residents help shape policies, priorities, and investments for the region’s water supply. Opportunities for residents to provide input include:

Surveys: The CRD is currently inviting feedback on the draft Regional Water Supply Strategic Plan through an online survey available until March 31, 2025, at 11:55 PM. Input collected from residents will help refine the final version of the Strategic Plan. 

Virtual Information Session: A public information session is scheduled for March 6, 2025 @ 6:00 PM. This session will provide an overview of the plan and allow residents to ask questions.  This session will also be recorded and available for viewing for those that cannot attend. 

Water Advisory Committee (WAC) & Regional Water Supply Commission (RWSC): Residents can attend the public open forum portions of the WAC or RWSC meetings in person or virtually to learn more about water related planning, infrastructure and key decisions about the water supply system. 

NOTE: Elected representatives from municipalities and electoral areas sit on both the WAC and RWSC and residents are encouraged to engage with these representatives.