News & Media

The Town of Ladysmith is receiving over $10,850,000 in Federal and Provincial funding to complete a major water infrastructure project at Holland Lake, nearly doubling the reservoir storage capacity and greatly improving our drinking water supply.

 

The Town will increase the lake’s storage by raising the two existing earthfill dams, and dredging to remove debris from the lakebed, allowing for a 1.5- metre increase to the water level.

 

A new water intake constructed through the East dam, as well as upgrades to the existing outlet pipe and spillway on the West Dam, will improve flow management.

 

These improvements will ensure year-round access to high-quality drinking water for residents and businesses, safeguarding and preserving infrastructure, while also mitigating environmental impacts that affect water quality and ecosystems.

 

“On World Water Day, this significant investment in the raising of the Holland Lake dam better safeguards this secure water source for today and future generations in the face of climate change and growth pressures," said Mayor Aaron Stone. "Through the renewal of our municipal infrastructure, the Town’s shared investment with the federal and provincial governments prioritizes local water security, which is critical to the long-term economic, environmental, and social well-being of Ladysmith, the Stz'uminus First Nation and the Diamond Improvement District, which depend on Holland Lake as the primary water source during the dry season.”

 

Ladysmith was among 14 drinking water and wastewater projects across British Columbia to share in the $98-million funding announcement on Friday.

 

The Federal government is investing $5,922,814 in the Holland Lake infrastructure project through the Green Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) and the Province is contributing $4,935,185.

 

In 2020, the Town undertook an Alternative Approval Process to permit the borrowing of funds for these infrastructure upgrades at Holland Lake, the first significant work on the dams since they were constructed in the early 1980s. At the time of the grant application, the Town’s contribution to this project was $3,949,036.

 

Climate change is expected to result in less precipitation in the summer months, and more precipitation in the fall and winter, most likely in the form of rain rather than snow.  Increasing storage capacity at Holland Lake allows the Town to better capture this precipitation.

 

The Town provides 3,401 water services connections, delivering safe and reliable access to high-quality drinking water to homes and businesses.