The Britannia Beach Wastewater Plant can now receive trucked wastewater that is outside its sewage collection and treatment service area, in addition to trucked wastewater that is within its service area.
The (SLRD) board voted in favour of adopting the Britannia Beach Sewage Collection and Treatment Service Establishment Bylaw amendment at its meeting on April 23.
SLRD staff explained in a board meeting on Dec. 12 last year that non-domestic wastewater was at that time only transported to Britannia Beach as an emergency measure.
The charge before the recent amendment was $9 per cubic metre for non-domestic waste.
Wastewater from, for example, the Woodfibre LNG collection site, was trucked to Metro Vancouver or Victoria, costing significantly more.
“The Britannia Beach facility was [built] to a capacity far beyond what exists at the moment. It has the capacity to take all of the wastewater that will come from Britannia South,” Area D director Tony Rainbow said at a December board meeting, referencing an upcoming development.
“If we increase the amount of [trucked wastewater], it is better in terms of efficiency, and ends up saving us some money. We have an opportunity to charge some fees and build up reserves, so [it’s] a benefit to our community and not detrimental to anybody else.”
With the amendment passed, rates for accepting out-of-region waste would be negotiated in a contract between the SLRD and the company seeking the service.
Electoral Area C director Russell Mack shared Rainbow’s sentiments and elaborated on environmental benefits. “[We will have] less trucks going up and down the highway burning diesel fuel, take advantage of the opportunity,” he said.
Director Jenna Stoner, who is also a Squamish councillor, also said in December’s meeting, “I think [accepting out-out region wastewater is] an efficient use of our infrastructure. It's important to make sure that if we have capacity, no matter what the project is, we are using our wastewater systems to their maximum extent. More waste in a larger system makes it more efficient.”
Director and Squamish councillor Chris Pettingill opposed the amendment, having said at January’s meeting that he had concerns about increased waste production.
“What I've seen with water bylaws and so on is a real push to minimize water use and sewage use,” he said, “I understand there may be more residential development that requires the size, but for me, I'm uncomfortable doing things to facilitate greater water use and sewage, maybe we can deal with that by setting significantly high rates.”
Director and Squamish Mayor Armand Hurford argued that increasing wastewater loads would further the value of residents’ living costs.
“I think this is appropriate to monetize in a way that supports the residents’ pay to that cost centre,” he said, “[I] look forward to what actually ends up there.”
The bylaw’s amendment was promptly adopted by the SLRD at April’s meeting without further discussion.
states that the annual cost of receiving out of region trucked wastewater (around $200,000) shall be funded primarily by taxes and grants, approved by the
SLRD staff said that if Woodfibre LNG, FortisBC or other companies have further discussions with staff on their liquid waste disposal needs, staff can bring reports to the board for the board members to approve or reject the proposal.
At this time, wastewater is not currently being accepted from anywhere outside of the Britannia Beach service area.
You can find more information about the SLRD’s operations for water and sewage systems on their as well as
Ina Pace is The ¾¢±¬´ó¹Ï's Local Journalism Initiative (LJI) Reporter.
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