Engineering Wastewater Treatment
Wastewater is a complex issue, and one in which engineering can greatly impact the CRD's ability to take part in the latest in innovative technologies and resource recovery. We are committed to the exploration of reclamation technology,to minimize cost, maximize energy reuse and benefit our environment. To do this, our goal is to build plants which satisfy not only today's requirements, but can accommodate future advances in environmental technology.
Our Planning Strategy
There are four elements to wastewater management in the CRD Region. Read more on how they work and what you can do to help:
- Source control
- Decentralized wastewater treatment
- Water reuse and resource recovery
- Wet weather flow management
How will we do it?
We are now faced with a number of options when it comes to engineering each site. Some of the questions that need addressing include:
- What functions will each site serve?
- How will we deal with sludge and where will we process it?
- How many decentralized plants will there be?
- What technologies will be employed at each site?
- How will we plan to allow for future technological innovations?
Solid & Liquid Waste Integration: A New Direction
A number of planning initiatives are currently underway for both liquid and solid (garbage) waste that will ultimately shape how the Capital Regional District (CRD) will manage these waste streams in the future. As the CRD develops future waste management options, an integrated planning perspective is crucial for achieving economic, social and environmental benefits for the region.
A fully integrated, holistic approach to waste management planning is a new way of thinking compared to the established practice of planning for each waste stream separately. An integrated planning approach may reveal synergies that could result in reduced life-cycle costs for infrastructure, more flexible options, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental benefits, as well as new revenue streams from recovered resources.
The following flow chart of liquid and solid waste streams generated in the region shows which functions are currently integrated and where the potential lies to move towards a more integrated approach.
Solid and Liquid Waste Integration Flow Chart (PDF 
)
© Bottom image courtesy of Minette Layne
How are decisions made?
A tool has been developed to guide the CRD through the complexities of issues and alternatives, which will culminate in the selection of a preferred distributed wastewater management strategy.