Wastewater Treatment Project Board Completion

May 26, 2021

Victoria, BC- The Wastewater Treatment Project Board has successfully fulfilled its role and has presented the Capital Regional District Board (CRD) with the Wastewater Treatment Project Completion Report and Governance Transition Report. The CRD, through the Project Board, planned, procured and constructed the Wastewater Treatment Project from May 2016 to May 2021. 

“The commitment and effort demonstrated by both the Project Board and the Project Team brought the largest infrastructure project in the capital region’s history into service on time and below the approved budget. This remarkable achievement will have a lasting impact on the region and provides us with the tools we need to protect our ocean and our environment,” said CRD Board Chair Colin Plant. “I want to thank the Project Board for their leadership and the Project Team for their dedicated effort which made this Project such an incredible success. The efforts of CRD departments and staff are also acknowledged as one of the key successes was the integration of project components into the existing Core Area Wastewater system and the preparation for handover of operations.”

The bylaw authorization which provided the Project Board with the authority to oversee this Project has been rescinded to allow the Chief Administrative Officer and staff to close out the balance of construction and to assume operational oversight. There is now a significant amount of new infrastructure that requires ongoing management. The CRD has been preparing over the last few years to take on these new responsibilities.

The McLoughlin Point Wastewater Treatment Plant contract includes a two-year performance period. During this time, the CRD will operate and maintain the McLoughlin Point Wastewater Treatment Plant while Harbour Resource Partners is responsible for monitoring operations and assisting the CRD to ensure the treatment plant continues to perform successfully. 

The Residual Treatment Facility began producing Class ‘A’ biosolids in January 2021. The commissioning process is ongoing and is anticipated to be complete in June 2021. The Residuals Treatment Facility was procured as part of a Private Public Partnership and will be operated independently, with CRD oversight, by Synagro as part of the Hartland Resource Management Group. 

Construction on the Arbutus Attenuation Tank, being built to increase the capacity of the conveyance system, is expected to be completed in June 2021. Although the Clover Point Pump Station is currently pumping wastewater to the McLoughlin Point Wastewater Treatment Plant, some additional work is required which is expected to be completed this fall. 

The CRD has also entered into funding, First Nations and land access agreements. There are a small number of obligations remaining to be fulfilled as part of these agreements which the CRD will undertake. 

The federal and provincial governments assisted the CRD in funding the Wastewater Treatment Project. The CRD will submit the appropriate documentation to receive final funding from these partners. 

For operational information and updates, please visit www.crd.bc.ca/wastewater.

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Proud to be recognized as one of BC’s Top Employers and Canada’s Greenest Employers, the CRD delivers regional, sub-regional and local services to 13 municipalities and three electoral areas on southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Governed by a 24-member Board of Directors, the CRD works collaboratively with First Nations and all levels of government to enable sustainable growth, foster community well-being, and develop cost-effective infrastructure while continuing to provide core services to residents throughout the region. Visit us online at www.crd.bc.ca. 

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For media inquiries, please contact:
Andy Orr, Senior Manager
CRD Corporate Communications
Tel: 250.360.3229
Cell: 250.216.5492