Surpassing Regulatory Requirements to Future Proof a Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility

摘要

Growing public interest in sustainable wastewater treatment practices is leading to a heightened expectation from stakeholders on the levels of treatment that should be achieved at treatment facilities across North America. Initial stakeholder consultation for the expansion of the $1.0 billion Northwest Langley Wastewater Treatment Plant (NLWWTP) near Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, indicated a disconnect between the regulatory minimum treatment level (secondary treatment) and the desire of stakeholders and First Nations to protect the environment. Project staff developed an engagement process to work with the Board of Directors, comprised of elected officials from each local authority, to establish a balance between affordability and the public's desire for higher levels of treatment. This process included distilling engagement information into key themes, determining stepwise improvements to the baseline treatment process, and creating a series of clear and logical presentations to allow the elected officials to make an informed decision. The selected level of treatment exceeds the minimum requirements of the applicable effluent discharge regulations and includes biological nutrient removal and effluent filtration to address the desires of the community to protect the receiving environment.