June 15, 2026

Town of Sidney ready to supply emergency drinking water

Sidney, BC – The Town of Sidney has completed its Disaster Water Supply Program, becoming one of the first municipalities in the Capital Regional District fully prepared to deliver safe drinking water from a secondary source in the event of a disaster.

Over the past two years, the Town has built a comprehensive system to transport, store, and distribute emergency drinking water. This work, led by the Sidney Fire Department, included the acquisition of a water tanker truck and the installation of three storage containers that serve as Community Points of Distribution. This system will enable the Town to access water from the Capital Regional District’s seismically resilient blue hydrants and deliver it to residents and visitors if regular water supply is disrupted.

The Community Points of Distributions are strategically located to support neighbourhoods across Sidney, at:

• Rathdown Park
• Mary Winspear Centre
• Philip Brethour Park

In October 2025, the Town conducted a hands-on exercise with community organizations, neighbouring municipalities, and local First Nations to test the system and gather feedback to ensure it will operate smoothly in an emergency. To further support public awareness, the Town hosted an open house at the Mary Winspear Centre in April 2026, giving residents an opportunity to learn how the system works.

The Town has also released a short online video that demonstrates how the emergency drinking water system works and how residents can access it if needed.

This emergency preparedness initiative was made possible through funding from the Province of British Columbia’s Disaster Resilience and Innovation Funding program and the BC Growing Communities Fund.

Quotes:

“Access to safe drinking water is critical. Thanks to the leadership of the Sidney Fire Department, the Town is now ready to distribute water from the Capital Regional District’s seismically resilient back-up water system in an emergency, making our community a safer place to live.” – Mayor Cliff McNeil-Smith