Construction beginning on Esquimalt Wastewater Treatment Project

Proposed design of wastewater treatment plant McLoughlin Point (source: CAWTPB Presentation – September 14, 2016)

Construction is slated to begin in April on the$385 million redesigned McLoughlin Point Wastewater Treatment Plant in the Township of Esquimalt, next to Victoria in the Capital Region District (CRD) on the southern tip of Vancouver Island.

This is the first of three integrated projects totalling an estimated $765 million to put in place a modern, efficient wastewater treatment system for the CRD’s core area. The Wastewater Treatment Project includes:

• The McLoughlin Point Wastewater Treatment Plant, which will provide tertiary treatment to the core area’s wastewater and includes a pipeline from Ogden Point to McLoughlin Point and a new marine outfall for treated water into the Juan de Fuca Strait;
• A Residuals Treatment Facility at the Hartland Landfill, which will turn residual solids into “Class A” biosolids; and
• A conveyance system, which will carry wastewater from across the core area to the treatment plant, and residual solids to the Residuals Treatment Facility.

In a release announcing the construction start, it’s noted that all of the project components will be completed by the end of 2020, providing residents and businesses with a modern wastewater treatment solution that is environmentally sensitive to the surrounding marine ecosystem.

The  project is being funded by the Government of Canada, the Government of British Columbia and the CRD.

Quick facts

• Government of Canada is contributing up to $120 million through the Building Canada Fund – Major Infrastructure Component towards the McLoughlin Point Wastewater Treatment Plant; and up to $50 million through the Green Infrastructure Fund towards the conveyance system project.
• The Government of British Columbia will provide up to $248 million towards the three components of the project.
• P3 Canada will provide up to $41 million towards the Residuals Treatment Facility through the P3 Canada Fund.
• The Capital Regional District is providing $306 million for the three project components and will be responsible for any additional costs.
• The Government of Canada will provide more than $180 billion in infrastructure funding over 12 years for public transit, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, transportation that supports trade, and Canada’s rural and northern communities.

Related articles:

Geotechnical work beginning at McLoughlin Point

Decision looms over Esquimalt sewage treatment plant