Residents in the Sandpiper subdivision will soon receive a new water supply after an agreement was signed between the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) and the Town of Qualicum Beach.
The Sandpiper community, established in 1980, currently accesses their household water supply from a series of groundwater wells, leading residents to manage individual water treatment systems at their own expense. Although the water is deemed potable by Island Health, the water is not aesthetically pleasing. This new agreement will bring a bulk water supply from the Town of Qualicum Beach to the Sandpiper reservoir that consistently meets Canadian Drinking Water Quality Guidelines, which were last updated in 2019. The water needs of 242 households will be met while still ensuring the community has a sufficient water source for emergencies.