The Core Area Liquid Waste Management Plan (CALWMP) outlines CRD's wastewater management strategies, including wastewater treatment under the Environmental Management Act.

Wastewater Treatment Plan

The CALWMP is the main planning document for the Wastewater Treatment Project. The Core Area Liquid Waste Management Plan provides an overview of how the CRD will treat wastewater in the Core Area. Amendment 12 builds on information submitted to the Ministry in Amendment No. 11, which was approved on September 30, 2016.

Amendment 12 updates Table 5.5 of the CALWMP to include the plan by the District of Oak Bay to complete the separation of its Uplands combined sewer system.

The CRD received approval from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy on the condition that the Amendment incorporate a staged approach to combined sewer separation and include Uplands sanitary sewer pipeline rehabilitation.

Amendment No. 13 (proposed)

As a condition of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (ENV) approval of Amendment 12 on June 20, 2018, the Capital Regional District is required to update Inflow and Infiltration (I&I) commitments in the Core Area Liquid Waste Management Plan. Staff advised ENV that it would be delaying its I&I submission while preparing a broader Liquid Waste Management Plan (LWMP) update.

However, several municipalities are waiting for the I&I section update to proceed with infrastructure and asset management planning, and staff are now recommending focusing on the I&I update separately and addressing the broader LWMP update afterwards.

The CRD is convening a Technical and Community Advisory Committee. One task for that committee will be to review and provide recommendations to staff on this Liquid Waste Management Plan amendment.

Consolidated LWMP Document (up to Amendment No. 12) (2019)

Amendment No. 12 (2017)

Additional Core Area Liquid Waste Management Plan Initiatives

The CALWMP also includes seven liquid waste management initiatives designed to protect our region's water quality:

  1. Monitoring and sampling: assessing and addressing wastewater and stormwater quality and quantity throughout the region, with special focus on outfalls, harbours and the marine environment
  2. Harbour stewardship: organizing clean-ups, developing public education and sharing information are just a few ways to preserve and protect the many harbours in the capital region
  3. Watershed protection: sustaining and enhancing watershed functions that affect the plant, animal, and human communities within a watershed boundary involve planning, protection and restoration
  4. Trucked liquid waste management: providing disposal options for businesses and industries that produce certain kinds of liquid waste that cannot be discharged into sewer or storm drains. Examples include automotive part washer solutions, contaminated groundwater from site cleanup, catch basin waste from shopping mall parking lots, and restaurant grease trap contents.
  5. Inflow and infiltration: repairing and replacing leaky stormwater and sewer pipes, and uncoupling historic connections between sewer and stormwater systems to reduce the risk of contaminants entering the water supply, and watershed and marine environments
  6. Onsite septic maintenance: educating home and business owners about the importance of conducting regular pumping and maintenance of septic systems and small/private treatment plants to reduce the risk of contaminants leaking into the water supply and watershed and marine environments
  7. Source control: keeping contaminants out of wastewater and stormwater through education and awareness initiatives, and making sure contaminants are properly disposed of at recycling, landfill or hazardous waste facilities

The programs within the CALWMP deliver coordinated, comprehensive and effective conveyance, treatment, and environmental management of liquid waste in the core area.

Liquid Waste Management Plan Amendment Archive:

Amendment No. 11 (2016)

Amendment 11 responds to the needs of the region by providing tertiary sewage treatment for the Core Area by 2020. It is intended to be responsive to the interests of the surrounding community and neighbourhoods. The plan outlines a process to develop an integrated resource management solution for the region’s waste. It also includes a commitment to advance studies for a wastewater treatment proposal in Colwood.

Amendment No. 10 (2016)

Consolidated LWMP document (up to Amendment No. 9) (2015)

Amendment No. 9 (2014)

Consolidated LWMP document (up to Amendment No. 08) (2011)

Amendment No. 8 (2010)

Amendment No. 7 (2009)

Progress Report to Minister (June 2009)