- Home
- Services
- Utility Services
- Water Systems
- Mesachie Lake
Mesachie Lake Water System
The CVRD assumed responsibility for the Mesachie Lake water system, located east of Lake Cowichan in Area F, in 1969.
The system services 101 residential and commercial properties.
Source, Treatment and Distribution
Water is pumped from a groundwater well directly into the distribution system as it fills the reservoir. If the well is not running, water is gravity-fed from the reservoir to the distribution system. The water does not currently require any treatment.
As directed by the Island Health Authority a backup chlorination system is in place should disinfection be required. Funding has been secured by Community Works Gas Tax for replacement of the existing reservoir.
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 sent to the on-duty pager for immediate response by CVRD-staff.
Water Quality Testing
Mesachie Lake 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 distribution is alternated each year. | Bureau Veritas |
Testing results can be found in the Annual Water Report completed each year.
Fee Structure
Mesachie Lake Water System is not currently a metered water system. Customers receive user fees every six months and an annual parcel tax is levied on individual property taxes. Current year budget information can be found here.