Hagensborg Waterworks District (HWD) is a form of local government called an Improvement District, located in the small community of Hagensborg in British Columbia’s Mid Coast. HWD was incorporated by Letters Patent in 1964 and operates in compliance to Local Government Act and answers directly to the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development. [For more information on Improvement District’s CLICK HERE]
The intent of the community was to develop a public water system and fire protection for the community of Hagensborg. Northcop Logging provided the District with an easement across their land to access water above Snootli Creek falls, and above fish habitat. A watershed “Reserve” was established protecting the Snootli Creek water, ensuring long term natural pristine conditions. Ten years later the District purchased almost 40 acres of land along Snootli Creek from Northcop Logging for the grand sum of $2500.
Community members supplied much of the labour and equipment to build the dam on Snootli Creek and lay the pipe for an energy efficient gravity feed distribution system. In addition to allaying cost, this created a strong sense of ownership and is a deep source of pride.
In 2000 the District rebuilt the dam, increasing capacity, and began Phase One to replace the aging pipeline with larger pipe to increase distribution and pressure and meet the needs of the community. A 12 inch main service line was laid from the intake increasing pressure for fire flow. Several two 8 inch lines were run to the highway. The west service line crossed the creek and ran almost to Walker Park road. Work on the upgrades was halted when the Drinking Water Protection Act was passed and trustees decided they needed to begin saving money to meet looming compliance demands.
Today, the Hagensborg Waterworks District is one of the largest Improvement Districts in the province servicing over 220 water connections with over 14 miles of pipe and fire hydrants. In addition to residences and farms, the district boundaries include the busy regional airport, the ambulance station, the community swimming pool, popular retail outlets, the valley’s garden centers, Min. of Environment, Forests, and Parks offices, the Dept. of Fisheries and Ocean`s Salmon Enhancement facilities, the post office, access to the regional landfill and recycle station, and several tourism accommodations & campgrounds.
In 1986 the district purchased a new fire truck and created the Hagensborg Volunteer Fire Department. In 1998 a Mutual Aid agreement from the 3 other valley volunteer fire departments was reached providing backup fire protection for the entire western end of the Bella Coola Valley.
Today the Hagensborg fire department maintains a full contingent of volunteer fire fighters and is often the first on-scene in any fire, a fact the other fire departments have come to rely heavily on.
In addition to our volunteer Fire Fighters, the board also volunteer to serve. Indeed, the District has become known for the long service terms contributed by elected volunteer trustees, some serving up to 20 years, providing critical stability in governance and invaluable historical knowledge to the operations.
Most recently, in 2015 the trustees approved the position of Watershed Warden with several community members volunteering to serve in that capacity.
Here is a chart of the Chairs and Secretary/Administrators who have served for over 50 years.