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Arbutus Mountain Estates Water System
Arbutus Mountain Estates Water System is located south of Shawnigan Lake in Area B. The system services the 'Estates of Shawnigan Station' residential development with 124 service connections.
Source, Treatment and Distribution
Water from the system is supplied from two groundwater wells, chlorinated at the treatment building and pumped to a 751,000 L steel-bolted, above-grade reservoir. The water is gravity fed on demand from the reservoir to the distribution system and to each water service.
Critical equipment is monitored 24-hours a day for malfunctions, such as high or low chlorine levels or pump failures; if such an abnormality occurs, an alarm is immediately send to the on-duty pager to alert CVRD-staff for quick response.
Water Quality Tests
Arbutus Mountain Estates water system is sampled, at a minimum, once a week. The following table shows the sampling frequency and parameters tested for the water system:
Testing results can be found in the Annual Water Report completed each year.
Arbutus Mountain Estates water is a fully metered water system meaning each connection has a water meter that records water consumption. Water meters are read every six months and customers are charged according to their consumption and based on the rates set out in the inclined block rate table (see below for details)
Annual Charges (2017 Rates)
*User Fees are mailed out to each customers on the billing date stated above.
**Parcel Tax is charged once a year and is incorporated into the property tax for each customer.
BC Assessment charges a 5.25% administrative fee which is included in this amount.
Inclined Block Rate Table
High Consumption Due to Undetected Leaks
User charges may be adjusted on a one-time forgiveness basis, where an undetected leak on your property has resulted in water consumption greatly exceeding your normal consumption (for the billing period) and there is no indication that water was knowingly allowed to run to waste. Additionally, a cap of $1500.00 is in place for subsequent leaks after the first "forgiveness" of a water overage charge. Written verification describing the nature of the leak and the action taken to repair the problem must be received by the Manager before the forgiveness will be granted
Source, Treatment and Distribution
Water from the system is supplied from two groundwater wells, chlorinated at the treatment building and pumped to a 751,000 L steel-bolted, above-grade reservoir. The water is gravity fed on demand from the reservoir to the distribution system and to each water service.
Critical equipment is monitored 24-hours a day for malfunctions, such as high or low chlorine levels or pump failures; if such an abnormality occurs, an alarm is immediately send to the on-duty pager to alert CVRD-staff for quick response.
Water Quality Tests
Arbutus Mountain Estates water system is sampled, at a minimum, once a week. The following table shows the sampling frequency and parameters tested for the water system:| Frequency | Parameter Tested | Laboratory |
| Weekly | Bacterial (E.Coli and Total Coliforms) | Samples are submitted to the Island Health Authority for testing by a provincial laboratory |
| Annual | Full spectrum analysis based on the Canadian Drinking Water Guidelines. Sampling of the source and tap water is alternated each year. | ALS Environmental |
Testing results can be found in the Annual Water Report completed each year.
Fee Structure
Arbutus Mountain Estates water is a fully metered water system meaning each connection has a water meter that records water consumption. Water meters are read every six months and customers are charged according to their consumption and based on the rates set out in the inclined block rate table (see below for details)
Annual Charges (2017 Rates)
| Billing Period | Meter Reading Date | User Fees* minimum payment (up to 200m3) |
Parcel Tax** |
Minimum Annual Fee
(User Fee and Parcel) |
| March 15-September 14 | September 15 | $140.00 | $273.65 | $553.65 |
| September 15-March 14 | March 15 | $140.00 |
*User Fees are mailed out to each customers on the billing date stated above.
**Parcel Tax is charged once a year and is incorporated into the property tax for each customer.
BC Assessment charges a 5.25% administrative fee which is included in this amount.
Inclined Block Rate Table
| User Fees | |
| Water Use (per billing period) | Charge |
| 0-200 m3 | $140.00 |
| 201-300 m3 | $140.00 + $1.10 per m3 over 200m3 |
| 301-400 m3 | $250.00 + $1.65 per m3 over 300m3 |
| over 400 m3 | $415.00 + $2.48 per m3 over 400m3 |
High Consumption Due to Undetected Leaks
User charges may be adjusted on a one-time forgiveness basis, where an undetected leak on your property has resulted in water consumption greatly exceeding your normal consumption (for the billing period) and there is no indication that water was knowingly allowed to run to waste. Additionally, a cap of $1500.00 is in place for subsequent leaks after the first "forgiveness" of a water overage charge. Written verification describing the nature of the leak and the action taken to repair the problem must be received by the Manager before the forgiveness will be granted
| $140.00 + $1.10 per m3 over 200m3 |