The Village of Sayward is maintaining water conservation measures while continuing to assess the impacts of an October landslide that has caused intermittent turbidity in the community’s drinking water source. In partnership with the Strathcona Regional District (SRD), officials issued an update Tuesday outlining system performance, response actions and next steps toward long-term water supply protection.
The update follows a landslide that occurred on October 23 at approximately 9:15 p.m. in Newcastle Creek, roughly one kilometre outside the village boundary. The event was heard by residents throughout Sayward Valley but caused no injuries and did not affect homes or private property.
Since the slide, Sayward Public Works staff have been monitoring the Water Treatment Plant (WTP), the creek intake and the community reservoir for changes in sediment levels. Heavy rainfall and shifting fine material in the creek bed have caused spikes in turbidity, prompting temporary shutdowns of the WTP as a precaution to prevent sediment from entering the system.
Municipal officials said the precautionary shutdowns are short in duration and have not resulted in significant disruptions for households or businesses. Water service continues to operate normally between turbidity events, and the WTP is brought back online as soon as water clarity improves.
To better understand the extent of the slide and its potential implications for Sayward’s drinking water supply, the Village and the SRD activated a Level 1 Emergency Operations Centre (EOC). With funding from the Ministry of Emergency Management & Climate Readiness (EMCR), the EOC coordinated with Campbell River Search and Rescue to capture aerial drone footage of the affected area on November 20. The video, which includes views from both the bottom of the slide and upstream toward the slope, is available to the public through two posted links.
Municipal officials report that while conditions continue to fluctuate, the water system remains stable. “Despite periodic turbidity, the WTP, water intake, and reservoir are operating well, and impacts to residents remain minimal,” the Village said in its update. However, the statement noted that temporary operational pauses may still be required if rainfall or shifting debris cause turbidity to rise above safe operating thresholds.
With the initial emergency response phase complete, the Village has begun planning for longer-term analysis and mitigation. The EOC is working with engineering firm McElhanney Ltd. and seeking additional EMCR funding to conduct a technical assessment of the landslide. The study would help identify remediation options and evaluate potential risks to Sayward’s long-term drinking water supply.
The community’s reliance on the Newcastle Creek watershed makes the assessment critical for planning future water system upgrades and climate-resiliency measures. Turbidity from upstream landslides can present challenges for small water systems, requiring operational flexibility, monitoring and specialized treatment processes to maintain water quality.
The Village emphasized the importance of keeping emergency communication channels open and urged residents not to call 911 for information. Instead, officials encouraged the public to monitor updates through Alertable and the Village and SRD’s official communication platforms.
Residents are asked to continue following conservation measures while monitoring conditions remain variable. Although no boil water advisory is in place, reduced consumption helps maintain reservoir levels during temporary WTP shutdowns.
The Village of Sayward and the SRD expressed appreciation for community cooperation as staff and emergency partners work to stabilize the situation. As additional assessments move forward, more detailed updates will be shared with the community.
