The Comox Valley Regional District has thanked the residents and businesses in the Town of Comox, City of Courtenay, and K’ómoks First Nation for helping reduce sewage flows after a leak on Tuesday.

The CVRD says flow was reduced by about 50 percent, which helped to enable crews to complete the required repairs to the sewage leak.

“The community's response to the appeal to reduce flows to the sewer system was impressive and helped expedite the repair and reduce the impact on the marine environment,” said Kris La Rose, General Manager of Engineering Services.

“Planning for the recovery is ongoing, but extensive environmental monitoring started yesterday and will continue for the foreseeable future.”

Crews were called out Tuesday morning after a leak from temporary bypass piping at the Comox Pump Station was discovered.

The volume of leaking wastewater and the location of the leak, added to the complexity of the repair.

The CVRD estimates that about 6,000 cubic meters of wastewater was spilled into the lagoon adjacent to the pump station and neighbouring Comox Marina.

Upgrade work at the Comox Pump station has been put on hold to allow focus on the cleanup and investigation into the leak.

As a precaution, the District says water related activities should be avoided within the Comox Harbour and Estuary, including Royston, Gartley Point, Dyke Road, Courtenay Air Park, and Goose Spit until further notice.

That includes swimming, paddleboarding, fishing off the dock or gathering shellfish. Also - make sure children and pets stay out of the water.

As water testing and analysis takes time, the District says an update will be shared early next week as results become available.

Boating and fishing outside the Comox Harbour remains safe.

For more information, visit Comox Valley Regional District.