North Shore Wastewater Plant Status
The North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant is a major concern for all residents of Blueridge, and indeed all of Metro Vancouver. The existing wastewater treatment plant no longer meets federal treatment requirements, which now require secondary wastewater treatment. Expenses to renovate the plant have ballooned from an original $700 million to an expected $3.86 billion, there are lawsuits between the original contractor (Acciona) and Metro Vancouver, and the huge costs increases are currently slated to be born largely by North Shore residents for 30 years.
And with additional – and substantially more expensive – wastewater treatment projects coming, it is not clear how Metro Vancouver will manage and pay for everything successfully.
This page tracks what we know about this project, as well as providing links to related news stories and organizations that are addressing the problem.
Current Plan:
Originally expected to be operational in 2020, the new plant’s opening date is still not certain. New contractors (PCL and AECOM) are currently evaluating the site and work completed to date, and determining what it will take to finish the project. Details are scarce, possibly because the lawsuits have caused all parties to avoid commenting to the press.
As stated above, the expected cost to finish the project is currently $3.86 billion, but how certain anyone is of that number is unclear. Regardless, Metro Vancouver has currently settled on the following payment plan:
North Shore households – those benefiting directly from the plant – will pay $590 per year for 30 years in addition to our current sewer charges. The increase will be phased in over 5 years beginning in 2025.
Households elsewhere will see additional charges as follows:
- Households in the Vancouver Sewage Area will pay an extra $150 per year for 15 years.
- Households in the Fraser Sewage Area will pay an extra $90 per year for 15 years.
- Households in the Lulu Island Sewage Area will pay an extra $80 per year for 15 years.
As of August 2024, Metro Vancouver is planning to oversee an audit of the plant and project, but it still has yet to begin. In addition, numerous people and organizations are unconvinced that such an audit will be adequate, given it will be overseen by the organization running the project.
Additional Information from Metro Vancouver
- Media Release – September 10, 1014
- North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant details page – this page has links to many additional information sources about the project
North Shore Neighbourhoods Alliance
The North Shore Neighbourhoods Alliance (NSNA) is a non-partisan group formed in response to the cost overrun issues related to the new wastewater treatment plant. The Blueridge Community Association is a member of the NSNA.
- Jun 26, 2024: NSNA Founding Press Release
- Oct 7, 2024: NSNA Welcomes Conservative Support for an Independent Investigation
News Archive
These stories come from various news sources reporting on the issue. Note that not every article published is linked here. Many are duplicates or cover similar material, and we may miss some. If you find one that needs to be added, send the link to webmaster@blueridgeca.org for consideration. Thank you!
November 2024
- Acciona and Metro Vancouver Fight in the Open
- Metro Vancouver Budget Information – straight from the source
- DNV Council Calls for Public Inquiry on Wastewater Plant
- CNV Mayor and DNV Councillor Tried to Limit Tax Increase
- Metro Vancouver Approves 25.3% Tax Increase – but that’s the average; here on the North Shore the increase is much higher thanks to the wastewater treatment plant cost increase; our increase will be from $813 to $1147 this year, or 41%; note that this particular increase is not imposed by the District – they only collect the money and pass it on to Metro Vancouver
September 2024
- West Vancouver Finds Way for Residents to Defer Wastewater Plant Charges
- Maybe a Positive Development in the NSWWTP Saga (Kirk LaPointe Opinion)
- Metro Vancouver Rethinking Approach to Iona Wastewater Plant in Light of North Shore Plant Debacle
- Over 100 Mayors and Councillors Meet to Discuss NSWWTP
- Questions About the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant at Metro Vancouver Meeting (video)
- Retired Judge Hired to Drive Wastewater Plant Review
- Overview of Sewer and Water Projects Coming to Metro Vancouver – the North Shore Wastewater Plant is far from the most expensive item facing the region
- DNV Councillor Catherine Pope Again Calls for Provincial Public Inquiry into the Wastewater Plant Project
August 2024
July 2024
- Metro’s Audit Going Forward – auditor not yet selected
- Councillors Call for New Metro Van Chair to Step Aside – controversy over auditor recommendation continues
- Metro Van Chair Recommends and then Backs Away From Wastewater Plant Auditor
- Details on Single Bid for Iona Wastewater Plant Preliminary Design – currently estimated at $9.9 billion, how this plant will get paid for could affect us here
- Design of New Iona Treatment Plant Gets Started – if you thought the North Shore plant was expensive, this one is much more
- Metro Vancouver CAO Defends His Record
- North Shore Neighbourhoods Alliance Calls For More Cost Sharing and Audit
- Premier Calls for Audit of Sewage Plant, but There is No Local Government Auditor
June 2024
- Calls for Metro Vancouver Board to be Elected
- Call for Inquiry into Wastewater Plan Rejected in New Westminster – as worries about Iona wastewater plant costs increase
- Concerns About Metro Vancouver’s Management of Large Projects Continue
- Seven Politicians Call for Audit of Wastewater Plant Costs
- Timeline of the Wastewater Plant Project So Far
- Metro Vancouver Announces Independent Audit of Wastewater Plant Expenses
- CNV Mayor Linda Buchanan Says Proposed Audit Inadequate
- Call for Federal Audit of Wastewater Plant Expenses
- Coalition of Community Associations Takes on Wastewater Plant Expenses
- New Metro Vancouver Chair Continues with Review; No Audit Planned
May 2024
April 2024
- North Shore Wastewater Plant – a summary of the political situation
- DNV Mayor Mike Little Argues for Wider Sharing of Wastewater Treatment Plant Costs
- NSN Editorial Calling for Wider Sharing of Costs
March 2024
- Preliminary budget shows average north shore home to pay $725 per year for 30 years to pay off the new plant; subject to change if additional funding is acquired
- Vancouver Sun summary
- North Shore News summary
- DNV Councillor Pope Calls For Audit
February 2024
- October 2024 Report on North Shore Sewage Treatment Plant Revealed – by freedom of information act