Saanich East-North Oak Bay Siting

June 9, 2010

Cadboro Bay

A recent decision by the Core Area Liquid Waste Management Committee (CALWMC) has resulted in a change in the facilities needed in Saanich East. With the adoption of a centralized treatment model, a liquids only treatment facility is no longer necessary in this neighbourhood. Instead, attenuation tanks, which will provide excess wastewater capacity during storm events, will be built in this community. Currently, the location of the storage tanks has not been decided; alternative locations to the Finnerty-Arbutus site are being investigated. The attenuation tanks will be buried underground and pose far less disturbance potential to the Saanich East neighbourhood than a wastewater treatment facility.

Residential concern in siting a wastewater facility near neighbourhoods was noted at many public open houses and by CRD consultants and peer review teams; this social concern also helped shape the final treatment configuration. By centralizing the system, the CRD was able to work within the confines of limited siting options and satisfy desire to impact as few neighbourhoods as possible with the placement of treatment facilities.

What will happen now?

The CRD and its consultants are investigating locations for the Saanich East attenuation tanks. Please check back for more information on the location of the tanks as research is completed.