Water, Sewer & Infrastructure

Straightforward updates on Harrison’s utility systems, costs, upgrades, and long-term risks.

What You’ll Find

• Current water and sewer rates

• New increases and fee changes

• Reserve levels and long-term funding gaps

• Major upgrades, replacements, and repairs

• Capacity issues and infrastructure age

• Dike, seepage, and flood-protection details

• Red flags raised in meetings or staff reports

• Why your water and sewer rates are going up

• Funding Gaps & Documents

Infrastructure Condition

• Aging pipes?

  
  Most of Harrison’s water/sewer pipes were installed 1970s–1990s. That puts a big share at or past the 40–50-year lifespan typical for asbestos-cement, cast iron, and PVC of that era.
  The Village has no funded replacement program—only spot repairs.

  
  

• Treatment plant capacity?

  
  The wastewater treatment plant has been flagged in meetings as near capacity in peak seasons.
  Growth + tourism push flows close to limits.
  Upgrades are not fully budgeted in the 5-year plan.
  This is a major bottleneck for new development.

  
  

• Pump stations?

  
  Harrison relies on multiple lift stations.
  At least two stations have been listed for “major upgrades/replacement” in capital plans, but funding keeps getting deferred.
  Equipment is aging and parts are obsolete.

  
  

• Maintenance cycles?

  
  The Village does reactive maintenance, not proactive.
  There is no published cycle for:
  • hydrant flushing
  • sewer flushing
  • valve exercising
  • CCTV pipe inspection
  This usually means hidden failures build up until they become emergencies.

  
  

• Deferred repairs?

  
  Annual financial plans repeatedly show millions in unfunded infrastructure needs.
  Some projects have been pushed back 5–10 years.
  This includes:
  • water main replacements
  • sewer relining
  • pump station rebuilds
  • treatment-plant upgrades

  Deferred repairs = higher break risk, higher eventual cost.

Dike & Flood Protection

Plain-language summaries of:

• Seepage problems?

  
  Harrison’s dike leaks.
  During high water, groundwater pushes under or through the dike in several weak spots.
  Engineers have confirmed seepage pathways that could worsen in a major flood.
  This is why the Village cannot rely on the existing structure for long-term protection.
  

• Engineering reports?

  
  Multiple engineering firms (NHC, Thurber, others) have studied the dike since 2021.
  Their findings align:
  • parts of the dike do not meet modern flood standards
  • seepage control is inadequate
  • some sections need rebuilding, not patching
  The reports also show the final fix will cost far more than the Village’s budget.
  

• Deployable barriers?

  
  The Village proposed a “deployable barrier system” along the waterfront — temporary walls raised only during floods.
  Engineers found major issues:
  • extremely expensive
  • complex installation
  • high failure risk
  • heavy maintenance
  The concept was dropped because it’s not feasible or affordable.
  

• Grant funding?

  
  Harrison received ~$11 million in provincial + federal funding for early-stage work: design, geotechnical study, environmental review, and limited upgrades.
  But the full project cost is several times higher.
  There is no secured funding to fully rebuild the dike or complete the seepage fix.
  

• Safety impacts?

  
  Until the full upgrade is built, Harrison remains vulnerable in a Fraser River or Harrison Lake high-water event.
  Seepage could compromise the dike from below even if the top isn’t overtopped.
  This puts:
  • homes
  • businesses
  • critical infrastructure
  • evacuation routes at elevated risk.

Why This Page Matters

Water, sewer, and flood-protection failures are expensive, slow to fix, and can cause serious community impact.
Residents deserve clear information — not financial surprises.

Updates

Posted whenever new reports, rate changes, or infrastructure issues appear in council meetings.