Classroom-ready resources support learning about Metro Vancouver’s wastewater systems and processes that protect our health and the environment.
Overview
To protect public health and keep pollutants out of our waterways and environment, Metro Vancouver collects and treats our region's wastewater. Wastewater comes from flushing toilets, laundry, washing dishes and anything else that sends water into a drain in our homes and businesses. Each person in our region produces an average of 500 litres of wastewater every day!
The system is composed of five wastewater treatment plants and a region-wide network of sewers and pumping stations. There are more than 15,000 km of sewer pipes in Metro Vancouver (enough to stretch across Canada and back).
Learning about wastewater, and the systems and processes involved, can help us understand how we all play a role in protecting our health and the environment by being careful about what we flush or put down the drain.
Curriculum connections
Wastewater can be explored throughout the big ideas and core content of BC’s K-12 curriculum, from simpler explorations at the Elementary level to more complex inquiries during the Secondary years.
Inquiry spark activities
These flexible activities aim to spark curiosity, develop competencies and promote inquiry.
What are The Unflushables?
All sewers lead to the same place: our waterways. Common household items, such as wipes, paper towels, medications, hair, tampons and applicators, floss, and condoms, should never be flushed. Collectively these are known as the Unflushables and they create havoc in our wastewater treatment systems. This inquiry spark activity explores the Unflushables and what we can do to protect our wastewater system and precious waterways.
Where does your wastewater go?
Metro Vancouver treats over one billion litres of wastewater every day! 80% of this wastewater comes from our residences, including houses, condos, apartments, and townhomes. Where does our wastewater go? How does it get there safely? This activity aims to spark student inquiry and exploration about the critical systems and processes that protect our health and environment after we flush.
Activity ideas
These brief activity ideas can be adapted into more fulsome activities to guide learner inquiry.
Learn more
Where can you go to experience and learn more about wastewater in Metro Vancouver?