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Wastewater Upgrades

This page was last reviewed on February 11, 2025.

Wastewater Upgrades Coming to the Village

The Village of Cumberland is upgrading its wastewater treatment system to meet provincial standards, as well as fulfill environmental goals to remove man-made toxins, restore degraded ecosystems and release safe water into Maple Lake Creek and the Trent River, which flows into Baynes Sound.

The Wastewater Upgrades Project is a result of years of careful planning and community input to develop a sustainable treatment system in a region with unique challenges which include high winter wet weather flows, extremely dry summer conditions and a sensitive downstream habitat.

LATEST UPDATES:

Wastewater Upgrades AAP

NOTE: The Wastewater Upgrades AAP closed on June 11, 2024. The AAP was passed, allowing borrowing to proceed.

Here’s an overview of the Wastewater Upgrades AAP process:

  • In February 2024 council approved a budget increase on the project to cover additional expenses caused by increased materials costs, unexpected site conditions, delays in detailed design, a partial re-design to build in climate resiliency, and other factors.
  • As a result of these factors, the cost for Phase 1 of the project is estimated at $16.7 million – an additional $2.2 million from the previously-approved 14.5 million.
  • These upgrades are critical to meeting provincial standards and releasing safe water into Maple Lake Creek and Trent River, which flows into Baynes Sound. The Village’s wastewater treatment system is currently out of compliance and has been directed to complete upgrades or face significant fines.
  • To cover the increased cost, council has temporarily allocated $1.52 million from reserves.
  • Council also approved the proposal to borrow $2.5 million to cover the additional cost and provide a buffer to the project budget.
  • To allow borrowing, an AAP – previously known as a counter-petition – was held from May 1-June 11, 2024.
  • The AAP was passed, with 17 electors submitting forms opposing the borrowing. This is below the threshold of 248 which would have prevented the borrowing bylaw from being approved.
  • Borrowing for the Wastewater Upgrades Project will be repaid using an annual parcel tax, expected to kick in in 2026. This new borrowing will increase that parcel tax by $113/year, from $199 to $312, when it starts.
Visit the AAP Webpage for more information about the AAP process or, read our Wastewater AAP Infosheet – which was mailed to homes in May 2024 – for a summary of the proposed borrowing.

About the Wastewater Upgrades

The Wastewater Upgrades Project is about improving the treatment provided by the current lagoon system. This project includes two phases. with the lagoon upgrades as the primary focus. Work began in 2022 and is estimated to be complete in 2025.

PHASE 1: Treatment Upgrades: These are the main treatment improvements, to meet provincial effluent and reliability standards – works include:

  1. Improvements to wastewater screening,
  2. Changing the flow path in the lagoons and adding extra aeration
  3. Adding nutrients for phosphorus removal
  4. Additional environmentally friendly disinfection
  5. Ancillary works such as an operator’s building, workshop, improved instrumentation, site security, etc.

PHASE 2: Additional Improvements. These are the additional aspirational improvements identified through the planning process that will improve treatment but are not required by regulation. This includes (for example):

  1. Biochar Media Reed Bed: To be complete in tandem with Phase 1.
  2. Tertiary Filtration: To be complete in tandem with Phase 1.
  3. Wetland Enhancement. Using the reed bed treated water to irrigate an area of the existing natural wetlands for further polishing of the water by dispersed flow into the creek.
  4. Seismic Upgrades: Improving Lagoons by infilling existing Maple Lake Creek channel and regarding berm walls.
  5. Stormwater Treatment Wetland: Improvements to the western wetland ponds to make them a functional stormwater treatment wetland, and passing Mill St. and Cumberland Rd. stormwater through them before reaching Maple Lake Creek.
  6. Maple Lake Creek Improvements: Re-routing and naturalization of the Maple Lake Creek channel by adding to east side of wetland area and introducing natural form weirs and fishways.

What You Need to Know

This is the largest capital project undertaken by the Village of Cumberland to date, with an updated projected cost of $16.7 million for Phase 1 works and $4.5 million for Phase 2. The Village is seeking borrowing approval to cover the project budget increase for Phase 1 works. See the Wastewater AAP Section above.

  • Grants will pay for a significant portion of this project. Here is a breakdown of funding:
    • Canada – BC investing in Canada Infrastructure Program Federal contribution $3.9 million
    • Canada – BC investing in Canada Infrastructure Program Provincial contribution $3.2 million
    • Federation of Canadian Municipalities “Green Municipal Fund” – Loan of $2.26 million and grant of $0.34 million
    • Canada Community Building Fund $2.5 million (see announcement here)
  • This combination of engineered and naturalized systems will have lower operating costs than a traditional mechanical wastewater treatment system.
  • Lagoon upgrades will support future population growth to 7,000 people.

Community Events

  • Cumberland Liquid Waste Management Plan Community Infosession
    Join us to learn more about the long-term planning process for wastewater in the community, and the final tasks to completing the LWMP.
    Tuesday, Feb. 25, Council Chambers
    4:45-5:45 pm OR 6:00-7:00 pm

Aerial view of the Wastewater Treatment Facility in 2021, before pre-construction tree clearing.

Project News

2023

  • Nov. 2023: Construction activity slows for winter
  • Nov. 2023: Wastewater Upgrades Project Newsletter #5 (Nov. 2023)
  • June 2023: Construction on site to begin.
  • May 2023: Wastewater Upgrades Project Newsletter #4 (May 2023)
  • April 2023: Government of Canada, Province of BC and Union of BC Municipalities announces $2.5 million grant via Canada Community Building Fund. Press release here.

2021-2022

  • Nov. 2022: Wastewater Upgrades Project Newsletter #3 (Nov. 2022)
  • June 2022: Community Update hosted on site to provide latest information about upcoming construction.
  • April 2022: Tree removal completed to make room for construction, completed infrastructure, fencing and to prevent overgrowth from interfering with the operations of the lagoons.
  • Mar. 2022: Wastewater Upgrades Project Newsletter #2 (Mar. 2022)
  • Sept 2021: Wastewater Upgrades Project Newsletter #1 (Sept. 2021)
  • Dec. 2021: Trail Work Complete – Work on a new trail near the wastewater treatment facility was completed in early December. The new trail offers a safe route in the area connecting to existing trails – and will serve as a replacement for the trail that currently accesses the wastewater facility, which will need to be closed during construction in 2022.

Learn More

Get in touch: email wwt-upgrades@nullCumberland.ca or call: 250-336-2291

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