The Village of Sayward, in partnership with the Strathcona Regional District (SRD), is providing an update on the current water conservation notice and turbidity issues in Newcastle Creek.
What Happened On October 23, 2025, at around 9:15 pm, a landslide occurred in Newcastle Creek, roughly 1 km outside the Village. It was heard by residents in the Sayward Valley but did not impact public safety or private property.
Since then, Sayward Public Works has been closely monitoring the Water Treatment Plant (WTP), the Newcastle Creek water intake, and the water reservoir. Heavy rainfall and shifting fine materials continue to cause periodic turbidity, requiring precautionary temporary WTP shutdowns to prevent sediment from entering the WTP system.
Due to turbidity issues with the water drawn from Newcastle Creek and to better understand the landslide's extent and potential impacts on the drinking water source, the Village and SRD activated a Level 1 Emergency Operations Centre (EOC). With funding support from the Ministry of Emergency Management & Climate Readiness (EMCR), Campbell River Search and Rescue captured drone footage of the area on November 20, 2025:
- Bottom of slide (downstream): https://youtu.be/HWkDU5QOE-8
- Downstream toward slide then upslope: https://youtu.be/Lf3V6M73X2Q
Current Status
Despite periodic turbidity, the WTP, water intake, and reservoir are operating well, and impacts to residents remain minimal. Temporary shutdowns of the WTP may still be needed if turbidity rises, but staff will resume WTP operations as soon as conditions allow.
Next Steps
The EOC is now in discussion with McElhanney Ltd. and pursuing additional EMCR funding for a technical assessment of the landslide. This work will help identify remediation and mitigation options to protect Sayward's long-term drinking water supply.
Public Advisory
Residents are asked to:
- Avoid calling 911 for updates--keep emergency lines clear.
- Follow Alertable and official Village/SRD channels for current information.
The Village of Sayward and the SRD appreciate residents' patience and cooperation.
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Media Contact: Shaun Koopman, SRD Emergency Services Manager - 250-830-6702 | skoopman@srd.ca (Currently unavailable; reachable starting Nov. 27)
