Harbourside Place

We fell in love with the beautiful cedars when we first saw this property. They were
evidence of a large and supportive aquifer as these trees require water. Thus, the first
construction on the property was the large pond. It is spring fed and has been stocked
with wild sea run cutthroat trout supplied by Kathy Reimer and her crew from creeks that
go dry in the summer. The pond continues to naturalize with every passing year and now
looks as though it has always been there.  

As all water on this island originates as rain, we decided to go to the source and
installed tanks for rainwater collection in the basement of the cottage. The roof of the
cottage is so large that all three tanks will fill up by gravity in a couple of good
rains, ensuring that fresh water is always available. In the plumbing for the cottage,
provision was made for connections to a drilled or dug well and pipes have been run to a
witched site along the driveway and to the back of the property. The rainwater system has
served us so well that we have not felt the need to go to the expense of a well. Although
our rainwater tested pure in our initial test, we have installed a filtering system and UV
treatment on the household water. We have a pump in the pond and use pond water for
irrigation and it also can be used to flush both of the cottage toilets during the dryer
months. Since our rain in BC is acidic we use about 1.5 lbs of sodium bicarbonate per full
tank to raise the pH of the rainwater to about neutral. This also protects the copper
pipes and the water is very soft. We maintain the roof and gutters by pressure washing
once a year and blowing off debris with an electric leaf blower as required ...mostly in
the fall. The whole system is well designed, simple and sufficient. 

The pond holds about 750,000 imp Gallons of water and is 20' deep allowing for good
oxygenation and the cold bottom temperatures that wild trout thrive in. The cutthroat
trout eat whatever is hatching and make spectacular jumps. We do not feed them. There is a
spring at each end of the pond and the roof collection overflow is piped to the pond.
There are solenoid controlled pop up sprinklers of various sizes in the lawn areas and a
db2 pipe system for wiring from a programmable computer controller. Apple, pear, plum and
walnut trees have been planted and fenced individually to protect them from deer as well
as a Leylandi cypress hedge for privacy. All are well established and do not require
watering.

The septic field is sized for the cottage as well as a three bedroom home, was
professionally installed and there are 2" stub lines in two location on either end of the
cottage ready for a main home system.

The main power drop arrives at the shop and comes under the driveway to feed the cottage
panel. Shaw has installed telephone and high speed internet to the cottage in the same
trench.