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Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant Projects

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Project overview

The Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant is being upgraded to ensure continued protection of public health and the environment in a growing region.

Metro Vancouver wants to ensure the wastewater treatment plant makes a positive contribution to the health and well-being of people and the environment. A number of ecological restoration projects are planned in coordination with the plant upgrades.

​Key facts:​​​

  • $9.9 billion: cost to deliver the Iona Projects ($6.4 billion in​ 2022 dollars, including escalation over duration of projects and risk reserve​​)​
  • 40%: amount of the region’s wastewater treated by the plant​
  • 750,000: people in the region served by the plant today
  • 950,000: people anticipated to be served by the plant in 2051
  • 1963:​ year the current treatment plant was commissioned​

About the treatment plant

The Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant was built in 1963 and today serves approximately 750,000 residents. The plant serves residents in the Vancouver Sewerage Area, which includes Vancouver, parts of Burnaby and Richmond, the University Endowment Lands, and UBC. The facility processes about 200 billion litres of wastewater each year.

The upgraded plant and complementary ecological projects are being designed to provide:

  • Tertiary wastewater treatment to improve the treated wastewater quality being discharged to the Salish Sea
  • Ecological restoration projects to restore Iona Beach Regional Park’s diverse and sensitive ecosystems, build climate resilience, increase park visitor connection to nature, and create integration between the wastewater treatment plant and Park
  • Resource recovery opportunities to help support the region’s carbon neutrality objectives, by recovering important resources such as reclaimed water for non-potable uses, and biogas captured and used at the plant to generate heat for operations as well as supply for renewable natural gas to the Fortis BC natural gas distribution system
  • Extensive ground improvements to protect the plant from earthquake events and account for future sea level rise this century

​The Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant Projects are now in the early works and preliminary design phase, with early works​ to prepare the site underway.

City of Richmond

Early works and priority a​ctivities

Metro Vancouver continues to deliver early works and priority activities to prepare the site and inform design. Visitors to xʷəyeyət (Iona Island) may see crews conducting work related to the following activities:

  • Clean out of treated sludge lagoons west of the existing treatment plant​
  • Design of a barge berth for transportation of construction materials to and from Iona Island
  • Removal of biosolids stockpiles east of the existing treatment plant
  • Geotechnical investigations, on land and in-water around Iona Island
  • Technical studies for ecological restoration projects
  • Work to obtain required permits and approvals
  • Improvements to roads and upgraded electrical servicing on Sea Island and Iona Island

We will keep you updated about what to expect on xʷəyeyət (Iona Island) and in the surrounding area as the projects progress.​​​​

  • Barge berth
  • Causeway improvements
  • Lagoon clean out
  • Biophysical studies
  • Outfall rehabilitation

Community engagement

Metro Vancouver is working closely with key stakeholders, the public, and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam Indian Band) to consider their interests and the project’s fit with the community.

Metro Vancouver will:

  • Provide information in a timely manner
  • Listen to interests and priorities
  • Collaborate on how the plant is integrated with Iona Beach Regional Park and the surrounding environment
  • Collaborate on resource recovery opportunities
  • Take feedback to the project team and report back on how it has been addressed
  • Establish a single point of contact the community can reach to discuss the projects

Ongoing opportunities for engagement will continue to be provided. Please see the Community Engagement section below for previous engagement activities.

​​​​Questions or comments? Please email ionawwtp@metrovancouver.org.​​​​​​

Other projects and b​ackground ​

  • Ferguson Road Realignment

Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant Ecology

Timeline


2018 – 2022

Project Definition​​

2022 – 2028

Design & Construction of Early Works and Ground Improvements​

2022 – 2035

Design & Construction of Treatment Plant ​

2022 – 2038

Design & Construction of Ecological Restoration and Park Projects ​

2035

Plant Operational​

Contacts


Information​ Centre
Monday – Friday
8:00 am – 4:30 pm

  • Email
  • 604-432-6200​​​

After hours emergencies

  • 604-451-6610​​​​

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