District of Hudson’s Hope awards major work project for water treatment plant upgrade

HUDSON’S HOPE, B.C. — The District of Hudson’s Hope said it has awarded major work packages for its ongoing water treatment plant upgrade. 

On July 6, the District of Hudson’s Hope announced that construction on the excavation and installation of new underground tanks is set to begin soon, and mechanical and electrical work inside the water plant is continuing. 

The district also said commissioning is on track for the summer. 

The district has been experiencing issues related to its water treatment plant for years. 

In 2017, the District of Hudson’s Hope and BC Hydro reached an agreement formalizing a long-term relationship between the utility and the district. 

According to BC Hydro, the long-term relationship will “support a sustainable and thriving community” and is the product of extensive discussion between the district and BC Hydro. 

As part of the agreement, BC Hydro made several commitments to the community, including providing around $1 million in funding to the District of Hudson’s Hope.

Of the funding, BC Hydro provided a one-time donation of $268,000 to establish a community trust fund to support community facilities and infrastructure. 

BC Hydro also provided a $442,000 one-time payment in recognition of district lands affected by the Site C project. 

Additionally, the district was given $150,000 to enhance Alwin Holland Park and other community shoreline recreation areas. 

To support the district in updating community plans to reflect the construction and operation of Site C, the district also received an $80,000 contribution from BC Hydro. 

In November 2022, the district said it was looking into a river water source despite repairs to the district’s water treatment plant. 

Dave Heiberg, then Mayor of Hudson’s Hope, said the district had consultants in place to explore what a potential river water source for the district would look like, despite the return of potable water to the district.

“We’re very happy to be back to potable water, but even the potable water isn’t what the community expects,” said Heiberg. “We’re just having to try to figure out a transition to the river source.” 

On December 1, 2022, the district and BC Hydro agreed that returning to a river water source as soon as possible is the best course of action. 

A test of the district water treatment plant returned with favourable results, deeming the water safe for consumption, but the district had still experienced challenges with the plant.

In July 2023, the district was deciding on a long-term solution for the water treatment plant. 

Robert Dauphinee, director of public works for the district, said the quality of groundwater was changing over time, and the district’s existing process couldn’t treat the water.

The district decided to revert to a river water source due to ongoing issues with groundwater.

“The process of treating groundwater was different from what we’d need for the Peace River,” said Dauphinee. 

The district said it had scheduled a vote for October 5 to see whether residents would approve the district’s borrowing funds to pay for a permanent water treatment plant. 

By September 2024, the district continued to raise concerns about the “disappointing” future of clean drinking water in the community due to geographic changes caused by BC Hydro’s Site C project. 

BC Hydro released a statement on September 20, 2024, saying it “recognizes the challenges faced by residents and businesses in Hudson’s Hope associated with the previous failure of their water treatment plant.” 

According to BC Hydro, it committed during the early stages of the Site C project to mitigating the effects of the dam and reservoir on the district’s infrastructure, including its water treatment plant.

BC Hydro said the District of Hudson’s Hope made the decision in 2019 to build a well system rather than a surface water system.

Under the agreement, BC Hydro funded the construction of the well system for approximately $5 million.

As of September 20, 2024, BC Hydro said it had provided around $6 million in total to the district for its water treatment plant. 

On September 26, 2024, residents gathered to express frustration over negotiations with BC Hydro regarding a permanent solution to the district’s need for clean, potable water, ahead of the October 5 vote. 

In October 2024, Hudson’s Hope residents voted to approve a $5 million loan for a new water treatment plant. 

On February 12, 2025, the District of Hudson’s Hope said BC Hydro had submitted a revised proposal to the district detailing the completion of a permanent water treatment system. 

The District issued a water shutoff notice on April 29, 2026, while investigating a leak in its water system. 

On Tuesday, the district said it will issue advance notice if any boil water advisories are required as work continues on the water treatment plant upgrade.