Wastewater Treatment Plant
The Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) operates one of the most advanced wastewater treatment facilities in Canada. The process includes primary, secondary and tertiary treatment and removes phosphorus and nitrogen biologically before disinfecting the wastewater with ultra violet. The treated wastewater meets all the requirements of the Ministry of Environment including receiving water standards for recreational use.
Whistler’s Wastewater Treatment Plant is one of the lasting legacies of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Plans to upgrade the Wastewater Treatment Plant were also part of Whistler2020, the resort’s community vision and sustainability plan. The Whistler2020 strategies developed by the Whistler community created the framework for a new state-of-the-art waste management system.
Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades:
Whistler’s Wastewater Treatment Plant received a $51.5 million upgrade, including an industrial composting facility.
Construction began in August 2008 on the wastewater treatment plant, and all of the upgrades were designed with sustainability in mind. Sustainable elements included changing the treatment process to eliminate the need for chemicals through the use of microbes. The project was funded by a combination of municipal reserves, contributions from the federal/provincial infrastructure program and long-term financing.
Instead of using chemicals, a biological process was implemented that uses microbes to remove harmful nutrients in the plant. These microbes reduce nitrogen and ammonia toxicity and minimize the impact to the Cheakamus River. Ultra violet (UV) disinfection is also used to reduce reliance on chemicals such as chlorine. UV disinfection delivers up to 1,000 times the level of protection over standard treatment against waterborne diseases such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia. The improved system is not only better for the environment, but also minimizes odour.
After being treated, the temperature of the treated water is then used as an energy source for climate control of the operations building and pumped into the District Energy System for the Whistler Athletes’ Village.
Upgrades at the plant include a secondary clarifier, a new primary sludge fermenter, the UV disinfection building, a soda ash silo and a biolsolids dewatering building, as well as a blower building with a room to house the primary heat exchangers for the District Energy System.
The plant and operating facilities have been built to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver standards. All the buildings at the Waste Water Treatment Plant incorporate as much natural lighting as possible, high efficiency lighting and low flow plumbing fixtures will be used throughout.
Background:
Sewage management in the RMOW is primarily by gravity, through a piping system that extends from Emerald Estates to Function Junction. Collected wastewater flows to the treatment plant site, located south of Highway 99, near Function Junction, where it enters the influent pump station and once treated, is discharged to the Cheakamus River via a river bank outfall. The municipality operates the plant within the Ministry of Environment guidelines.
Quarterly reports on treatment and effluent quality are posted here:
2012
- Dowload the Fourth Quarter 2012 here
- Download the Third Quarter 2012 here
- Download the Second Quarter 2012 here
- Download the First Quarter 2012 here
2011
2010
- Download the Fourth Quarter 2010 here
- Download the Third Quarter 2010 here
- Download the Second Quarter 2010 here
- Download the First Quarter 2010 here
2009
- Download the Fourth Quarter 2009 here
- Download the Third Quarter 2009 here
- Download the Second Quarter 2009 here
- Download the First Quarter 2009 here
2008
- Download the Fourth Quarter 2008 here
- Download the Third Quarter 2008 here
- Download the Second Quarter 2008 here
- Download the First Quarter 2008 here
2007
- Download the Fourth Quarter 2007 here
- Download the Third Quarter 2007 here
- Download the Second Quarter 2007 here
- Download the First Quarter 2007 here
2006
