The Capital Regional District (CRD) has announced plans for significant maintenance at the McLoughlin Point Wastewater Treatment Plant this spring, which may lead to some inconvenience for local residents.
To facilitate the first major cleanout since the facility opened in late 2020, the CRD is seeking regulatory permission for a temporary bypass of secondary sewage treatment.
This 21-day bypass, scheduled for March and April, will allow maintenance crews to complete essential system upgrades and cleaning.
During this period, wastewater will undergo only primary treatment—screening and some filtration—before being discharged into the Juan de Fuca Strait via a two-kilometre outfall pipeline.
Ordinarily, the McLoughlin Point facility provides tertiary treatment—one of the highest levels of wastewater treatment available—to the core municipalities of Victoria, Esquimalt, Saanich, Oak Bay, View Royal, Langford, and Colwood, as well as the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations.
Federal regulations require cities to provide secondary sewage treatment as a minimum standard. Secondary treatment involves removing biodegradable organic matter and suspended solids through aeration and filtration processes, while tertiary treatment eliminates specific substances such as nutrients and contaminants using advanced methods. However, temporary bypasses for maintenance or construction are allowed under federal guidelines, provided they are authorized.
The CRD has assured residents that they will be notified online about the bypass and its progress. Despite the reduced treatment during this period, the McLoughlin Point Wastewater Treatment Plant remains a state-of-the-art facility, capable of treating up to 108 megalitres (23.8 million imperial gallons) of wastewater daily.
While the bypass may result in some odour concerns or environmental impact, the CRD emphasizes that the maintenance is crucial for the long-term efficiency and reliability of the plant.
Once cleaned and upgraded, the facility will resume its full operations, including primary, secondary, and tertiary treatment of wastewater, and the conversion of solid waste into biosolids at the Hartland Landfill.
This type of cleanout of the backwash tank will occur every three to five years.
