Where Crofton gets its water after 2026 still unknown following mill closure

Where Crofton gets its water after 2026 still unknown following mill closure

Published 5:45 am Wednesday, March 4, 2026

The future of Crofton’s water supply remains up in the air after the closure of the Domtar pulp mill in the community.

Approximately 70 per cent of Crofton relies on water pumped from the Cowichan River through the mill’s water treatment plant, and has for decades, while the remaining 30 per cent is supplied by North Cowichan’s South End water system.

The mill, which has been in operation since 1957, closed down permanently early in the new year mainly due to continuing poor prices for pulp and lack of access to affordable fibre, leaving more than 400 workers without jobs.

Domtar, the owner of the mill, said the mill will continue to supply water to Crofton, as well as manage operations at the Lake Cowichan weir, for the rest of 2026, but there are no plans beyond that.

North Cowichan Coun. Mike Caljouw raised the question at the council meeting on Feb. 18.

“Is there a risk that it’s going to go ‘boom’ and it’s all over (at the end of 2026), or is there some kind of plan that is coming foward in the coming days?” he asked

Mayor Rob Douglas confirmed that Domtar has committed to supply water to Crofton and maintain weir operation for the rest of the year, but acknowledged that it’s not known what will happen beyond that at this stage.

“But we have learned that Domtar is in discussions with different investors about potentially acquiring the site, and we would assume they will factor in the future of the drinking water to Crofton for residents in those discussions if a transaction does proceed,” Douglas said.

CAO Ted Swabey added that North Cowichan has been exploring all possibilities to ensure water keeps flowing to Crofton after 2026.

“We have been really clear with Domtar representatives, and anyone that we talked to, that we’re here to partner, as is potentially the province, but particularly the municipality, with any new user (of the mill site) so that we can secure the existing use of these facilities,” he said.

“We think it’s a benefit to anyone coming in, and there will be an opportunity for us to be a partner in whatever happens.”

A statement from the municipality in January said Douglas and senior staff had met with several investors interested in potentially acquiring the mill site for continued forestry-related operations, or alternative industrial uses.

But North Cowichan provided no further information in the statement on who was interested in taking over the mill site, and there have been no further updates since then.