| Common questions about the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant | Common questions about the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant | <div class="ExternalClass2FA78D99FAFD41FE88A8B12762946674"><p>Metro Vancouver recognizes concerns about the updated cost and schedule to complete the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant, and changes to rates to deliver wastewater services to the region. Please find responses to frequently asked questions below.</p><ol><li>
<strong>What is the updated cost and schedule to complete the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Program?</strong>
<p>The updated program cost is $3.86 billion. This includes construction of the new North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant, construction of related conveyance infrastructure, and preliminary design for decommissioning the current Lions Gate Wastewater Treatment Plant. </p><p>Construction and commissioning of the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant is expected to be complete in 2030, with minor connecting works in subsequent years. Decommissioning and remediation of the current Lions Gate Wastewater Treatment Plant site will follow.</p></li><li>
<strong>How much has the cost increased? </strong>
<p>The updated cost of $3.86 billion is an increase of $2.8 billion from the previous budget of $1.058 billion that was established in 2020. The original cost estimate for the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Program was $700 million in 2013. </p></li><li>
<strong>What is driving the cost increase?</strong>
<p>The cost increase to $3.86 billion is attributable to multiple factors, including the significant rework required to address design and construction deficiencies left by the terminated design-build contractor, the cumulative effect of inflation on construction and labour costs, volatile market conditions, and the large number of infrastructure projects competing for resources across the province.</p></li><li>
<strong>How did Metro Vancouver determine the updated cost? </strong>
<p>The updated cost considers comprehensive cost estimates by three separate organizations, a value engineering exercise, investigation of current market conditions, and a review by a Metro Vancouver Board task force to consider the best path forward. </p></li><li>
<strong>How will the program’s budget impact my utility rates or property taxes? </strong>
<p>As the new treatment plant will benefit the entire region by protecting our marine environment, some of its costs are shared regionally. </p><p>The program’s cost allocation framework results in household impacts of an average of $590 per year for the North Shore Sewerage Area (West Vancouver, District of North Vancouver, City of North Vancouver), $150 per year for the Vancouver Sewerage Area (Vancouver, UBC, and parts of Burnaby and Richmond), $80 per year for the Lulu Island Sewerage Area (most of Richmond), and $90 per year for the Fraser Sewerage Area (most other areas of Metro Vancouver). </p><p>The North Shore Sewerage Area’s amortization period is 30 years, while the other three sewerage areas have an amortization period of 15 years. </p><p>Whether these costs will be included in utility rates, property taxes, or a combination of the two varies by municipality. Metro Vancouver does not directly bill customers, so costs per household may vary based on how rates are distributed by the municipality.</p><p>To reduce impacts in the short term, costs for the North Shore Sewerage Area will be phased in over five years. Costs for the Vancouver, Fraser, and Lulu Island Sewerage Areas will be phased in over one year.</p></li><li>
<strong>Is funding available from senior orders of government to contribute to the increased costs? </strong>
<p>The Federal and Provincial governments are providing joint funding of up to $405 million toward the construction of the new treatment plant. This was announced in 2017. </p><p>Metro Vancouver is working on a long-term financial plan and definition of affordability to better illustrate to the Provincial and Federal governments why our region in particular is in need of additional financial support to deliver infrastructure projects such as these.</p></li><li>
<strong>Why do we need a new treatment plant on the North Shore? </strong>
<p>This program is not optional. It is absolutely critical that a new wastewater treatment plant be built to ensure human health and the environment are protected well into the future.</p><p>The new treatment plant will replace the Lions Gate Wastewater Treatment Plant, which is one of the last plants on the west coast of North America to provide only primary level wastewater treatment. It cannot serve us into the future because it is at the end of its service life, and does not meet current regulatory requirements that require a higher level of wastewater treatment. </p></li><li>
<strong>Is the site chosen for the new plant adequate? How was it selected? </strong>
<p>In 2007, Metro Vancouver made the decision to build the new plant on a site in the District of North Vancouver. The location was supported by the findings of multiple studies completed between 2005 and 2013, and construction began in 2017. </p><p>The new plant will feature a stacked design that allows for efficient use of space and a smaller footprint. Stacked facilities are a viable solution in regions with limited industrial land availability and high property costs, such as the North Shore. </p></li><li>
<strong>What is happening now? </strong>
<p>Metro Vancouver is proceeding with delivering the program as quickly as possible. This will include issuing a contract in the coming months for a contractor to complete construction. </p><p>While that work is in progress, PCL (the construction manager) is continuing early works construction at the treatment plant site. We anticipate that construction activity on the site will increase over the coming months. Notifications will be provided if activities will require extended hours of work and in advance of activities that could impact business parking or access. </p><p>We provide updates to the community through a monthly email newsletter. If you are interested in receiving these updates, you can sign up by clicking the Sign up button under "Stay connected" on this webpage.<br></p></li></ol></div> |