Wastewater Recovery Project

A recent grant application to the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program provides $24.3 million, or about 66 percent of the total $36.9 million cost. Additional funding sources include an Okanagan Basin Water Board Sewage Facilities Assistance Grant (SFA) grant ($5.9 million), Township of Spallumcheen reserves ($1.5 million) and RDNO borrowing ($5.2 million). The RDNO Local Service Area petition for borrowing its $5.2 million share of the total project was successful earlier this spring. The petition passed the two required tests, with 63% of the parcels, and 78% percent of the value voting in favour.

Download the Full Grant Funding Announcement here

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Environmental protection and sustainable economic development in the Swan Lake Corridor are the primary goals of the newly established Wastewater Recovery Community Working Group A strong response to the call for volunteers resulted in a good mix of applicants from all sectors, interests, and area locations.

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Back left to right: Leith Skinner (outdoorsman/environmentalist); Ray Ivey (Area C Advisory Planning Commission / Swan Lake Local Area Plan Advisory Committee); Bob Fleming (Area B Director); Doug Neden (retired water and wastewater professional); Betty Holtskog (Registered Onsite Wastewater Practitioner); Mike Broersma (dairy farmer); and Anita Rea (Spallumcheen resident with community development experience) Leah Mellott (General Manager of Electoral Area Administration, RDNO). Front back to right: Marnie Williamson (North Okanagan Naturalists Club); Amanda Shatzko (Area C Director); and Christine LeMaire (Spallumcheen Councillor). Missing: Christine Fraser (Spallumcheen Mayor) and Alan Short (Avenue Machinery).

The Township of Spallumcheen bought a 2.5-acre site on L&A Cross Road that could accommodate the wastewater recovery plant. The Township also secured a 99-year lease for reclaimed water storage from a nearby property owner and arranged a partnership with an existing biosolids composting facility near the project site.

In 2015, to further explore these challenges and opportunities, RDNO, Spallumcheen, and OKIB formalized a collaborative, cost-sharing Memorandum of Understanding to preserve Swan Lane and surrounding wetlands, and improve opportunities for economic development. 

An updated and more detailed and action-focused MOU entitled Provision of Wastewater Recovery Facilities and Services has been signed and outlines factors such as administrative functions, ownership of sewer works, decision-making authority, operations and systems management, allocation of plant capacity, capital costs recovery, and wastewater recovery regulations.

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As documented in the 2015 MOU, collaborative governance of the project: Increases leverage when applying for provincial and/or federal funding; Facilitates the development of consistent and integrated plans, policies, and programs; Ensures an integrated approach to public outreach and engagement; and Sets the stage for future collaborations. Governance structures, functions, and jurisdictional roles and responsibilities are outlined in the 2018 MOU.

PHASING

Phase 1, undertaken between 2015 and 2016, explored options for providing wastewater treatment in the Swan Lake corridor. The resulting 2016 Phase 1 Feasibility Study, prepared by Urban Systems, supported the development of wastewater recovery, treatment, and reuse. Phase 2, undertaken in 2018, refined technical aspects of the project and examined funding options and governance structures. The resulting 2018 Phase 2 Feasibility Study was used to guide the development of the funding application submitted August 29, 2018, to the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.

TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS

To date, project partners have collaborated to: Assess existing environmental conditions (i.e., water quality analyses conducted in 2015, 2016 and 2017 confirmed that leaching septic systems are impacting Swan Lake health) Identify existing and potential commercial and industrial uses in the plan area (i.e., 2016 RDNO Employment Lands Report) Identify wastewater treatment, reuse and disposal strategies and options (i.e., 2016 Phase 1 Feasibility Study and 2018 Phase 2 Feasibility Study). Research outcomes, in all cases, supported the construction of a wastewater recovery facility and associated reclaimed water storage facilities to address environmental challenges, enhance economic growth, and provide much-needed irrigation water to area farmers.

FUNDING

Financial commitments were shared by project partners for Phase 1 scoping and Phase 2 technical analyses. A $10,000 Infrastructure Planning Grant was received from Province of BC in 2017 to assist with Phase 2 costs. It is important to note that the project will not proceed without senior government funding. Project partners submitted a grant application for $24.3 million to the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program on August 29, 2018. If grant funding is approved, the additional funding needed would come from an Okanagan Basin Water Board Sewerage Facilities Assistance Grant ($5.9 million), Spallumcheen reserves ($1.5 million), and RDNO borrowing ($5.2 million).

• Water quality assessments have shown that many area septic systems are leaching contaminants into Swan Lake, thereby impacting water and soil quality, bird habitat, and recreational use of the corridor.
• A wastewater recovery system would address these concerns, provide much-needed irrigation water for area growers, and support suitable commercial and industrial development in the area zoned for those purposes.

The Wastewater Recovery Project is being undertaken by the following key stakeholder groups:

• Partnership Committee (elected officials and senior staff from RDNO, Spallumcheen, and OKIB
  • ROLE: To steer the project and make key project decisions
• Wastewater Recovery Community Working Group (Partnership Committee members along with members representing community, environmental, agricultural, and business interests)
  • ROLE: To build community awareness/participation in the process and to inform project outcomes
• Technical Team (local government staff along with technical and communications/engagement consultants)
  • ROLE: To inform, undertake and oversee the project
• Communications/Engagement Team (key project stakeholders and communications/engagement consultants
  • ROLE: To optimize internal and external communication and engagement

Historically, septic systems have been used to treat residential, commercial, and industrial wastewater in the Swan Lake corridor. Water quality assessments have shown that many of these systems are leaching contaminants into Swan Lake, thereby impacting surface and groundwater quality, bird habitat, and recreational use of the corridor.

Additionally, economic development in RDNO Areas B and C, the Township of Spallumcheen’s south-east industrial area, and OKIB IR4 are all compromised by the corridor’s lack of sewer. Ideal for commercial and light industrial uses, the corridor requires a wastewater treatment plant and reclaimed water storage sites to optimize business growth. Wastewater recovery and reuse would also benefit agriculture in the area, as growers require additional sources of irrigation water during the hot summer months.