City of Prince Rupert - Liquid Waste Management Plan Stage 3
Type of initiative
FCM Green Municipal Fund - Plans, Studies, Pilots
Sector
Water
Project value$77,500
Project Type
Feasibility Study
Sub Sector
Wastewater Management and Treatment
Grant amount$38,750
Program type
GMF
Municipality
City of Prince Rupert, BC
Status
Fully Disbursed
Population
12,300
Project timeline
2011 - 2018
Project number
11032
Description
Prince Rupert, situated on British Columbia's North Coast, has a century-old wastewater system currently discharging raw sewage and wastewater directly into the harbour, posing public health and safety problems and adversely affecting aquatic habitat. To address these issues, Prince Rupert will complete Stage Three of its Liquid Waste Management Plan (LWMP).
Stage 3 will identify the strategic direction the City will follow to manage its wastewater, including an outline of the selected management approach, discharge standards, implementation schedule, cost estimates and proposed financing. Technical studies for Stage 3 LWMP will be completed as a series of four discussion papers and the development of a draft operational certificate, with final recommendations presented as part of a summary report. Public consultation throughout the process will involve two meetings with the Technical Advisory Committee and Local Advisory Committee; an open house; and public comment period to review key findings of the Stage 3 LWMP draft summary report.
Stages One and Two, previously funded by GMF, defined the available options for upgrading the system, and developed cost estimates for the identified options using a triple-bottom-line approach, and lifecycle and cost analyses to effectively manage liquid waste over 20- and 40-year horizons. The final overall plan will provide an overview of the wastewater management strategy, and deliver detailed implementation and financial plans for developing water treatment facilities approved after the completion of previous planning stages. The final plan will also present strategies for controlling pollution sources and make recommendations for an educational outreach program to inform the public about what can and cannot enter the wastewater collection system.
One of the plan’s main objectives is to align the city’s liquid waste strategy with planning goals including viability, environmental protection, land development and sustainable management. Implementing the LWMP is expected to improve public health, quality of life, community engagement, and environmental awareness.
The new technologies and wastewater options being evaluated could be replicated by other municipalities that are looking to expand or upgrade their wastewater treatment plants. It is expected that the solutions recommended by this study will allow Prince Rupert to improve its effluent quality, including its Biological Oxygen Demand and Total Suspended Solids rates by 85%.
(Project description from original funding application)
Applicant
City of Prince Rupert, BC