The District of Sooke marked Local Government Awareness Week by celebrating the completion of its wastewater treatment plant capacity expansion project.
The $6.58-million project was made possible with $4.6 million in provincial funding.
The Sooke Wastewater Treatment Plant Capacity Expansion Project not only increases the wastewater treatment capacity to accommodate current and future community growth but also improves the overall effluent discharge quality to continue meeting federal and provincial environmental regulations.
“As we celebrate the substantial completion of our wastewater plant capacity, we’ll take a moment to reflect on this facility’s significance and what it means to us,” Mayor Maja Tait said at a news conference on Thursday (May 16). “It’s our silent guardian, a watchful protector, and a steward of our environment, diligently removing up to 99 per cent of solids and contaminants from our wastewater.”
The original design capacity of the plant was 3,000 cubic metres per day, with a peak wet weather flow capacity of 6,900 cubic metres per day. Through the expansion, the plant now boasts a capacity of 4,500 cubic metres per day and a peak wet weather flow capacity of 10,350 cubic metres per day.
Key features of the plant expansion include:
• Sequencing Batch Reactor: This system enhances wastewater treatment by combining equalization, aeration, and clarification in one tank.
• Equalization Tank: Temporarily stores waste and uses a control system to maintain a steady flow for improved filtration and UV disinfection.
• Rotating Drum Thickener: Reduces sludge volume by increasing the concentration of solids, making it easier to handle and dispose of.
• Tertiary Disk Filter: Works like a fine strainer, removing solid particles from water with cloth filters on rotating discs. It automatically cleans the filters as needed.
Wastewater manager Paul Bohemier said the project will undergo final commissioning of equipment for performance testing with monitoring at one-week, one-month, and one-year milestones, staff operational equipment training, and implementation of additional regulatory testing.
An updated Wastewater Master Plan is also currently under development by the district and will take into account new provincial legislation regarding housing density. This plan will guide future infrastructure development in alignment with community growth and regulatory requirements.
Sooke’s wastewater collection and treatment system was commissioned in November 2005.
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