Program overview
Metro Vancouver is building the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant, a new treatment facility that will provide tertiary filtration to better protect the environment and meet the needs of a growing region.
Also included in the program are:
- The pump station and sewer pipes to serve the new plant (the Conveyance Project)
- Preliminary design work to decommission the existing Lions Gate Wastewater Treatment Plant
The new plant will serve over 300,000 residents and businesses in the Districts of North and West Vancouver, the City of North Vancouver, and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation). It will replace the Lions Gate Wastewater Treatment Plant, one of the last plants on the west coast of Canada and the United States to provide only primary wastewater treatment.
Building a new plant with a higher level of treatment is essential to meet mandatory federal regulations and to ensure much cleaner treated wastewater is released into the Burrard Inlet. The new plant will feature a modern, enclosed design and robust odour control system, meet the latest earthquake standards, and be resilient to future sea level rise. It will also include a public plaza and community meeting spaces.
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District of North Vancouver
Learn more
| Common Questions | https://metrovancouver.org/services/liquid-waste/north-shore-wastewater-treatment-plant-program-common-questions, North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Program – Common Questions | Common Questions | <div class="ExternalClass7EA7DB59A5574F29BB67FFE2E9BB9590"><p>Answers to frequently asked questions about the new treatment plant<br></p></div> | | https://metrovancouver.org/services/liquid-waste/PublishingImages/nswwtp-rendering-1.jpg, NSWWTP
https://metrovancouver.org/services/liquid-waste/PublishingImages/nswwtp-rendering-1.jpg | |
| Construction Activity and Updates | https://metrovancouver.org/services/liquid-waste/north-shore-wastewater-treatment-plant-program-construction-updates, North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Program – Construction Activity and Updates | Construction Activity and Updates | <div class="ExternalClass45AA099248304FB3A51F42BF15DEFFA8"><p>Follow construction progress as we build the new treatment plant<br></p></div> | | https://metrovancouver.org/services/liquid-waste/PublishingImages/nswwtp-rendering-2.jpg, NSWWTP
https://metrovancouver.org/services/liquid-waste/PublishingImages/nswwtp-rendering-2.jpg | |
| Key Events and Decisions | https://metrovancouver.org/services/liquid-waste/north-shore-wastewater-treatment-plant-program-timeline, North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Program – Timeline | Key Events and Decisions | <div class="ExternalClassDF194152FFDA40E5BD5F23A2B0372BD3"><p>Publicly available reports and documentation, from planning to current construction<br></p></div> | | https://metrovancouver.org/services/liquid-waste/PublishingImages/nswwtp-rendering-3.jpg, NSWWTP
https://metrovancouver.org/services/liquid-waste/PublishingImages/nswwtp-rendering-3.jpg | |
| Materials and Background | https://metrovancouver.org/services/liquid-waste/north-shore-wastewater-treatment-plant-program-materials, North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Program – Materials and Background | Materials and Background | <div class="ExternalClass77A8BA61FFC14C4CB0488046387E81BC"><p>More background about the need for the treatment plant and its history<br></p></div> | | https://metrovancouver.org/services/liquid-waste/PublishingImages/nswwtp-rendering-4.jpg, NSWWTP
https://metrovancouver.org/services/liquid-waste/PublishingImages/nswwtp-rendering-4.jpg | |
Project location and construction photos
| The program includes the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant, the First Narrows Pump Station and conveyance piping, and the preliminary engineering to decommission the Lions Gate Wastewater Treatment Plant. | | https://metrovancouver.org/services/liquid-waste/ConstructionImages/_t/nswwtp-location-map_jpg.jpg | The program includes the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant, the First Narrows Pump Station and conveyance piping, and the preliminary engineering to decommission the Lions Gate Wastewater Treatment Plant. |
| Aerial view of the project site in the District of North Vancouver. | | https://metrovancouver.org/services/liquid-waste/ConstructionImages/_t/nswwtp-site-location_jpg.jpg | Aerial view of the project site in the District of North Vancouver. |
| The contractor (PCL) has completed long, complex concrete pours that require extended hours to complete. | | https://metrovancouver.org/services/liquid-waste/ConstructionImages/_t/nswwtp-concrete%20-slab-pour_jpg.jpg | The contractor (PCL) has completed long, complex concrete pours that require extended hours to complete. |
| A concrete pour in progress at the future solids handling building. | | https://metrovancouver.org/services/liquid-waste/ConstructionImages/_t/nswwtp-concrete-pour_jpg.jpg | A concrete pour in progress at the future solids handling building. |
| Structural steel installed at the future operations and maintenance building. | | https://metrovancouver.org/services/liquid-waste/ConstructionImages/_t/nswwtp-structural-steel-install_jpg.jpg | Structural steel installed at the future operations and maintenance building. |
| Major equipment, such as heat pumps, are arriving to the project site. | | https://metrovancouver.org/services/liquid-waste/ConstructionImages/_t/nswwtp-heat-pump-lift_jpg.jpg | Major equipment, such as heat pumps, are arriving to the project site. |
| An aerial view of the treatment plant site, looking west. | | https://metrovancouver.org/services/liquid-waste/ConstructionImages/_t/nswwtp-construction_jpg.jpg | An aerial view of the treatment plant site, looking west. |
| A conceptual aerial view of the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant. | | https://metrovancouver.org/services/liquid-waste/ConstructionImages/_t/nswwtp-rendering-aerial_jpg.jpg | A conceptual aerial view of the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant. |
| A conceptual rendering of the future plaza and operations and maintenance building, which will house offices and community meeting spaces. | | https://metrovancouver.org/services/liquid-waste/ConstructionImages/_t/nswwtp-rendering-pemberton-plaza_jpg.jpg | A conceptual rendering of the future plaza and operations and maintenance building, which will house offices and community meeting spaces. |
| A conceptual rendering of the finished plant, as well as finished roadworks and pedestrian and cyclist facilities. | | https://metrovancouver.org/services/liquid-waste/ConstructionImages/_t/nswwtp-rendering-northwest-perspective_jpg.jpg | A conceptual rendering of the finished plant, as well as finished roadworks and pedestrian and cyclist facilities. |
Additional information
| About the Conveyance Project | About the Conveyance Project | <div class="ExternalClass0C7E7C2DF1EC42038D0CC505217B91DE"><p>A new pump station and new pipes are needed to move wastewater from West Vancouver to the new North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant, and to move treated wastewater from the new plant to the existing outfall pipe, which will remain in service. </p><p>In early September 2022, the North Shore Conveyance Partners (Kenaidan Contracting Ltd. and Michels Canada) completed their work on the North Shore Conveyance Project. </p><p>This work, which started in late 2018, included the design and construction of:</p><ul><li>The new First Narrows Pump Station</li><li>Approximately three kilometres of conveyance pipes</li><li>The tie-in to connect the newly constructed pipe, which will carry treated wastewater from the new treatment plant, to the existing marine outfall</li></ul><p>There will be a future phase of construction to install the final sewer pipes needed to connect the new treatment plant to the North Shore’s sewer collection systems. This work will be undertaken when construction of the treatment plant is nearing completion, and we will provide more information about what to expect in future project updates.</p><p>
<img src="/services/liquid-waste/ConstructionImages/first-narrows-pump-station.jpg" alt="First Narrows Pump Station" /> </p>
<p>The newly constructed First Narrows Pump Station, located under the Lions Gate Bridge (exterior – left image; interior pumps and equipment – right image) will help to move wastewater from West Vancouver to the new North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant. The building façade features original artwork by James Harry (commissioned by North Shore Conveyance Partners and Metro Vancouver – see inset). The pump station has received two awards: a 2022 Vancouver Regional Construction Association
<a href="https://vrca.ca/aoe/2022-silver-award-winners/" target="_blank">Award of Excellence</a>, and a 2023 British Columbia Association of Consulting Engineering Companies
<a href="https://acecbcawards.com/2023-awards/2023-municipal-civil-infrastructure/first-narrows-pump-station-design-build/" target="_blank">Award of Merit</a>.</p><br></div> |
| Funding partners | Funding partners | <div class="ExternalClass7CF09487C5D9433BAC5F974B7242C908"><p>The Federal and Provincial governments are providing joint funding of up to $405 million toward the construction of the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant. For more information on federal infrastructure funding, visit <a href="https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/" target="_blank" title="Funding partners">infrastructure.gc.ca</a><br></p></div> |