The CRD Marine Monitoring Program delivers marine assessment and research services for the capital region. CRD staff analyze samples collected from the capital region’s marine environment as well as wastewater treatment plants.
The program meets or exceeds BC provincial environmental monitoring requirements and helps to ensure that the CRD is proactively addressing and treating any instance of contaminated water from wastewater or stormwater systems that may affect environmental and human health.
Stormwater Monitoring
Rainwater can wash contaminants from land and impervious surfaces like roads, parking lots and roof tops into stormwater pipes and ditches where they are discharged to creeks and marine shorelines.
The CRD monitors levels of contamination in storm drain pipes, creeks, harbours and the nearshore marine environment at over 500 locations. These discharge points are then prioritized for our local government partners and other jurisdictions depending on the level of public health and environmental concern.
Data is summarized and used by our municipal partners, other jurisdictions and the community to identify sources of contamination and direct clean-up efforts, infrastructure upgrades and restoration activities.
Wastewater Treatment
Wastewater is used water that has been contaminated or polluted by human activities, including washing dishes, doing laundry and flushing the toilet. Each day, every person in the capital region produces an average of 185-200 litres of wastewater.
The CRD treats wastewater generated in the capital region to reduce environmental impacts and protect healthy waterways before releasing the effluent into the environment. There are seven wastewater treatment plants operating in the capital region.