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Wastewater Upgrades

This page was last reviewed on May 13, 2024.

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:

  • Alternate Approval Process: The Village is seeking elector approval for additional borrowing to complete the Wastewater Upgrades Project using an AAP, open from May 1-June 11. Find the form here.
  • May 2024 Newsletter Now Available: Read the latest about the Wastewater Upgrades Project with the May 2024 newsletter here.
  • Project Cost Increases: On. Feb. 12, 2024, council approved a budget increase of $1.52 million, to be paid using reserves to complete this important project. Council also directed that a bylaw be drafted that would allow the Village to borrow $2.5 million which is the full amount estimated to complete the remainder of the work – this includes the $1.52 million that is currently available from Village reserves and would be used instead of reserve funds if borrowing is approved. Read the full press release.
  • Construction preparing to restart: After a quiet winter onsite, the project’s construction team are re-activating at site, with work expected to pick up through the remainder of the spring and into summer. Watch here for updates along the way.

Wastewater Upgrades AAP

The Village’s wastewater system is currently out of compliance, and the Village has been directed to complete upgrades or face significant fines. This is a high priority, and is not optional.

With that in mind, the Village is seeking electoral approval for additional borrowing to complete the Wastewater Upgrades project using an Alternate Approval Process – previously known as a counter petition.

Here’s what you need to know:

  • In February, 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

The Cost:

  • To cover the increased cost, council has temporarily allocated $1.52 million from reserves.
  • Council also approved the proposal to borrow $2.5 million. If approved, these funds would be used instead of the $1.52 million from reserves, cover the additional $0.7 million in estimated overage, and provide $0.3 million as a buffer in case of further overages.
  • Borrowing approved in 2018 for the Wastewater Upgrades Project will be repaid using an annual parcel tax, expected to kick in in 2026. This new borrowing, if approved, will increase that parcel tax by $113/year, from $199 to $312, when it starts.

Borrowing is the preferred approach to paying for these additional costs, because it will allow the $1.52 million to remain available in reserves, giving the Village capacity to respond to other urgent needs in the community if they arise.

Learn More:

  • Visit the Village’s AAP Webpage for information about deadlines, eligibility and to download an AAP form.
  • Read our Wastewater AAP Infosheet – mailed to homes in May 2024 – for a summary of the proposed borrowing.
  • Stop by one of our office hours in Council Chambers to speak with Village staff about the project and the funding plan.
    > Tuesday, May 14, 8:30-10:30 a.m.
    > Friday, May 31, 1:30-3:30 p.m.

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

Wastewater AAP Information Open Office Hours: Stop by during our dedicated open office hours to chat with Village staff about the project and the funding proposal. Located in Council Chambers:

  • Tuesday, May 14, 8:30-10:30 a.m.
  • Friday, May 31, 1:30-3:30 p.m.

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

Project News

  • May 2024: Wastewater Upgrades Project Newsletter #6 (May 2024)
  • May 1, 2024: Wastewater Upgrades AAP Open. Click here for forms, deadline and eligibility info.
  • Feb. 2024: Budget increase approved by council. Press release here.
  • 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.
  • 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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