Liquid Waste Management Plan Amendment

The Liquid Waste Management Plan (LWMP) is the Regional District of Nanaimo's (RDN's) long-range plan to manage wastewater. The LMWP gives the RDN authority to determine community-driven solutions to wastewater management goals. The Province of BC approved the current LWMP in 2014. An amendment of the LWMP is underway now.
The RDN LWMP Amendment will:
- Capture progress towards goals in the current LWMP.
- Update action items in the LWMP to meet the needs and values of our communities.
- Update the timeline for the secondary treatment upgrade at Nanoose Bay Pollution Control Centre.
- Update the list of wastewater infrastructure projects and their cost estimates
How you can get involved
- Register to receive electronic updates on this project.
- Watch a video on the LWMP Amendment.
- Check out the presentation on the Introduction to Wastewater Services and the LWMP Amendment.
- Ask a question.
- Browse the FAQs.
- Learn more about RDN Wastewater Services.
The Liquid Waste Management Plan (LWMP) is the Regional District of Nanaimo's (RDN's) long-range plan to manage wastewater. The LMWP gives the RDN authority to determine community-driven solutions to wastewater management goals. The Province of BC approved the current LWMP in 2014. An amendment of the LWMP is underway now.
The RDN LWMP Amendment will:
- Capture progress towards goals in the current LWMP.
- Update action items in the LWMP to meet the needs and values of our communities.
- Update the timeline for the secondary treatment upgrade at Nanoose Bay Pollution Control Centre.
- Update the list of wastewater infrastructure projects and their cost estimates
How you can get involved
- Register to receive electronic updates on this project.
- Watch a video on the LWMP Amendment.
- Check out the presentation on the Introduction to Wastewater Services and the LWMP Amendment.
- Ask a question.
- Browse the FAQs.
- Learn more about RDN Wastewater Services.
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What We Heard - The Engagement Summary is Available Now
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkThanks to all who participated in the LWMP Amendment engagement opportunities. The What We Heard Engagement Summary is posted under the Resources section. All feedback will inform the final LWMP Amendment.
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Updated Factsheet 6 (Financial Planning) Available
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkAn updated version of Factsheet 6 (Financial Planning) is now available.
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Correction: Factsheet 6, Table 3
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkFactsheet 6, Table 3 displayed the potential average RDN wastewater household property tax for properties in Lantzville. The predicted 2023 and 2032 tax values remain accurate. However the calculations for the average annual increase and the total 10-year increase are corrected in the table below. The Final LWMP Amendment will use the corrected values. Information for properties in Nanaimo is correct.
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Correction: Duke Point Pollution Control Centre Phase 1 Expansion removed from LWMP Amendment
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkFactsheet 6 (Financial Planning) stated that there may be an expansion of the Duke Point Pollution Control Centre, based on demand. This project was listed in error and, to date, the RDN has not received a request for the expansion. If developers or new users in the community request an expansion of the service area, a plant expansion may be required, and one would be contemplated at that time. The Duke Point Pollution Control Centre Phase 1 Expansion mentioned in Factsheet 6 will be removed from the final Liquid Waste Management Plan Amendment.
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Engagement Opportunities in May and June
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkWe invite residents to take part in the next phase of the LWMP Amendment. In May and June, residents can learn about the amendment at virtual and in-person information sessions and open houses, attend SepticSmart workshops and participate in a survey.
- Virtual Events:
- May 4, 2023, Introduction to the LWMP Amendment. A recording of the presentation is available here.
- May 16, 2023, LWMP Amendment, specific to the Nanoose Bay Pollution Control Centre
- May 18, 2023, LWMP Amendment, specific to the Greater Nanaimo Pollution Control Centre and Duke Point Pollution Control Centre
- May 31, 2023, LWMP Amendment, specific to the French Creek Pollution Control Centre
- In-person Information Sessions:
- May 8, 2023, LWMP Amendment, focussing on the Nanoose Bay Pollution Control Centre
- May 23, 2023, LWMP Amendment, focussing on the French Creek Pollution Control Centre
- Open Houses:
- May 6, 2023, Greater Nanaimo Pollution Control Centre Open House
- June 3, 2023, French Creek Pollution Control Centre Open House
- SepticSmart Workshops:
- June 6, 2023, Parksville
- June 8, 2023, Electoral Area B / Gabriola Island
- June 20, 2023, Electoral Area C / Cassidy
- June 22, 2023, Electoral Area E / Nanoose.
- Survey:
- Open for feedback from May 4, 2023 to July 3, 2023.
- Virtual Events:
Timeline
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Review of LWMP Programs
Liquid Waste Management Plan Amendment has finished this stage2022
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Engagement Opportunities
Liquid Waste Management Plan Amendment has finished this stageMay and June 2023
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Review and Consider Feedback
Liquid Waste Management Plan Amendment has finished this stageSummer 2023
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What We Heard Report
Liquid Waste Management Plan Amendment is currently at this stageNovember 2023
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LWMP Amendment
this is an upcoming stage for Liquid Waste Management Plan AmendmentFall 2023
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Finalize and Submit LWMP Amendment
this is an upcoming stage for Liquid Waste Management Plan AmendmentDecember 2023
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LWMP Amendment Approval
this is an upcoming stage for Liquid Waste Management Plan Amendment2024 (determined by the Province)
Videos
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Click here to play video Introduction to the LWMP Introduction to the RDN Liquid Waste Management Plan, what it covers, and the RDN's approach to seek feedback from the public for an amendment.
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Click here to play video May 4, 2023 LWMP Primer Recorded presentation of the first virtual information session in the Liquid Waste Management Plan Amendment series. This video introduces some of terms we will use during the next information sessions.
Resources
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What We Heard Engagement Summary for the Liquid Waste Management Plan Amendment.pdf (12.4 MB) (pdf)
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Introduction to Wastewater Services and the LWMP Amendment (1.7 MB) (pdf)
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Factsheets
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Factsheet 1: Wastewater Infrastructure (1.81 MB) (pdf)
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Factsheet 2: Biosolids Management (960 KB) (pdf)
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Factsheet 3: Water Protection (553 KB) (pdf)
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Factsheet 4: Education and Outreach (693 KB) (pdf)
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Factsheet 5: Administrative Tasks (779 KB) (pdf)
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Factsheet 6: Financial Planning (Version 2) (2.05 MB) (pdf)
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Factsheet 6: Financial Planning (Original) (2.37 MB) (pdf)
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Discussion Papers
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Liquid Waste Management Plan (2014) (4.38 MB) (pdf)
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Summary of Commitments (377 KB) (pdf)
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Liquid Waste Management Plan Annual Report (2022) (662 KB) (pdf)
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Zoom 101 (172 KB) (pdf)
Map of Wastewater Treatment Plants
FAQs
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Wastewater Treatment
- What is liquid waste?
- What are some common ways to measure the quality of wastewater?
- What are primary and secondary treatment and what kind of water quality do they achieve?
- What levels of treatment do the RDN wastewater treatment facilities provide?
- Are municipal wastewater treatment plants required to provide secondary treatment?
- Are municipal wastewater treatment plants required to disinfect treated wastewater?
- What can be done to reduce the amount of waste discharged to the ocean?
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Liquid Waste Management Plan (General)
- Why do we need a Liquid Waste Management Plan?
- Why is the Liquid Waste Management Plan being amended?
- What are the ten programs of the current Liquid Waste Management Plan?
- What are some changes proposed for the LWMP Amendment?
- Does the LWMP Amendment include plans to expand sewer into areas that currently use septic systems?
- Which residents are responsible for funding the upgrades?
- Does the RDN apply for provincial and federal grants to reduce the financial burden on taxpayers?
- How could the RDN pay for emergency works in service areas with insufficient funds?
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LWMP for the Nanoose Bay Service Area
- I live in an area of Nanoose Bay that is serviced by septic systems. What does the LWMP Amendment mean for me?
- What is the federal regulatory requirement for the RDN to provide secondary treatment at NPBCC?
- Why is the timeline for the secondary treatment upgrade moving to 2040?
- How can the Nanoose Bay Pollution Control Centre secondary treatment timeline be upgraded sooner to mitigate environmental impacts?
- What is the existing capacity of the Nanoose Bay Pollution Control Centre?
- Is the condition of the NBPCC facility good enough to last until we upgrade the plant in 2040 as part of the Secondary Treatment Upgrade Project?
- If the NBPCC sewer interceptor and pump stations were originally installed with poor quality, how can we be confident the same problem won’t happen again when they are repaired?
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LWMP for the French Creek Pollution Control Centre Service Area
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LWMP for the Greater Nanaimo Pollution Control Centre Service Area
Follow Project
Who's Listening
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Manager of Wastewater Services
Email bwoods@rdn.bc.ca