Recent rainfall fills the 55,000 gallon reservoir pond at the newly opened Kwalikum Krossing service station. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

unique feature

Fire chief applauds innovative rain-capturing reservoir at mid Island service station

Apr 28, 2024 | 5:22 AM

QUALICUM BEACH — A new service station provides a lot more than gas, coffee and snacks.

Qualicum First Nation owned and operated Kwalikum Krossing, a Petro-Canada service station recently opened at 700 Horne Lake Rd. near the intersection of Hwy. 19.

Located on-site is a 55,000 gallon reservoir pool fed by a slanted roof sending rainwater into the pond.

“It’s not just the water that’s falling over the pond but it’s also all of the water that’s landing on top of the roof it’s funneling directly into that pond. That should help keep the levels up,” Bow Horn Bay Volunteer Fire Department (BHBVFD) chief Mark Taylor told NanaimoNewsNOW.

He said their trucks can suction 15 hundred gallons of water from the reservoir in under three minutes through an outlet pump in the service station parking lot.

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“It’s fantastic, the fact that whoever designed the building even thought to do this, It’s a great addition to the community.”

While supply will regress during the peak summer months, sufficient water supply in the reservoir pool should be readily available for area fire departments. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Having the ability to draw water in the area could come in handy for a structure fire in the nearby Spider Lake area for example, which Taylor noted does not have hydrants in the area.

Taylor said the closest hydrant to Kwalikum Crossing is about 800 meters to the east on Horne Lake Rd.

“I’d like to think that even without that there we would still have the same capabilities. It makes things that much easier for us.”

Taylor said the service station itself includes a state-of-the-art sprinkler fire suppression system.

In 2011 seven Oceanside area fire departments received Superior Tanker Shuttle Accreditation, including BHBVFD.

The designation from the Fire Underwriters Survey recognizes the abilities of rural fire department’s to supply water to a fire scene in volumes equivalent to a hydrant’s capacity.

The BHBVFD fire protection area covers 1,197 properties, Taylor said.

He hopes their Qualicum Bay based operation aims to incorporate the Horne Lake area into their catchment area, amounting to more than 400 additional homes.

“We have preliminary plans for a firehall in the Horne Lake area and we’re hoping one day we can have that realized.”

Kwalikum Krossing opened in early March. The Qualicum First Nation Petro-Canada is located on Horne Lake Rd. just off the northwest side corner of the intersection with the Inland Island Hwy. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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Ian.holmes@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes