Saanich East-North Oak Bay Siting History
Saanich East-North Oak Bay Siting
Saanich East-North Oak Bay was the first siting decision that the CRD undertook during planning for siting in the Core Area. During this period, the CRD moved from the selection of three candidate sites to the selection of one final treatment facility site at Finnerty-Arbutus. Public consultation was a key part of making this decision. Information on the siting process in Saanich East-North Oak Bay can be found below. Read on to learn about the three sites that were under consideration, features of each site and the timeline of the area's siting.
Read the Saanich East-North Oak Bay July/August Wastewater Newsletter.
Why is a wastewater facility necessary in Saanich East – North Oak Bay?
Some residents have questioned why a treatment facility is needed in Saanich East-North Oak Bay. The CRD has researched treatment plant locations; several reasons have shown why treatment is necessary in this area.
To treat wastewater locally
Population and wastewater flows are increasing in the CRD, and could increase by 80% by 2065. A treatment facility in Saanich East-North Oak Bay would allow waste to be processed nearer to its source. If wastewater is not treated locally, it must occur elsewhere.
To deal with wet weather flows
Heavy rainfall increases the flow of wastewater, sometimes overflowing sewer mains. A Saanich East-North Oak Bay facility would capture and treat these wet weather flows during rainfall events, keeping our environment safer and protecting public health. Local facilities also minimize the cost and disruption of upgrading sewer lines and pump stations downstream.
To avoid the need for flow attenuation tanks
Without local treatment, wet weather flows would require storage tank facilities at the Finnerty-Arbutus site. Storage does not provide treatment but facilities for storage tanks would cover a significant land footprint.
To provide opportunities for energy and water recovery
A local treatment facility can provide opportunities for energy and water recovery. Water can be reclaimed for irrigation, if desired; energy from wastewater flows can be recovered to heat institutional buildings near the facility.
Saanich East-North Oak Bay Candidate Sites
Selecting candidate sites for Saanich East-North Oak Bay involved assessment of the area using detailed siting criteria. The CRD assessed environmental and community conditions to identify possible sites. These conditions included: archaeological, land use compatibility, geotechnical suitability, energy conservation potential, ecological suitability and water reuse and energy recovery potential.
Six maps were produced by applying the criteria to the study area. View each map on the right sidebar.
What was included and excluded when selecting candidate sites?
In identifying areas for further investigation, a decision was made to exclude:
- Parcels smaller than 1.5 hectares
- Areas developed for housing
- Areas already occupied by institutional structures (buildings on the UVic and Queen Alexandra grounds)
- Areas used for school playgrounds
Narrowing the Field
Selecting candidate sites for Saanich East-North Oak Bay involved assessment of the area using detailed siting criteria. The CRD assessed environmental and community conditions to identify possible sites. The resulting candidate sites are shown on the following map and will be subject to an Environmental and Social review, conducted by the CRD’s consultants.
The University of Victoria Fields Site
Site Considerations
- Native vegetation has been cleared from the site
- Forcemain and gravity main routes follow road rights-of-way and have little ecological value
- Recovered energy and water could be used at nearby UVic facilities
- Location is on a designated truck route, reducing construction traffic effects
- High capital and operational costs due to pump station, longer forcemains and gravity mains
- A pump station would be required at Finnerty-Arbutus, increasing overall facility footprint
- Adjacent to housing and visible to the community
- Proposed tennis courts and grass practice field would be displaced
- Construction would obstruct pedestrian and bike paths
Estimated capital costs: $146.1 million
Estimated operating costs: $2.4 million
Finnerty-Arbutus Site
Site Considerations
- Adjacent to East Coast Interceptor sewer trunk
- Requires shortest gravity main
- Allows buffers between facility and residential areas
- Vegetation would visually screen facility from residential properties
- Recovered energy and water could be used at institutions within 1km of site
- Residents value the site as open space; informal paths exist throughout forest
- Loss of wildlife habitat
- Construction would require clearing of second growth forest
- Increased tree windthrow hazard following clearing
Estimated capital costs: $126.4 million
Estimated operating costs: $2.1 million per year
University of Victoria Cedar Hill Corner Site
Site Considerations
- Native vegetation has been cleared from the site
- Large parcel allows for buffers between facility and adjacent homes
- Recovered energy and water could be used at UVic facilities and for irrigation at the nearby golf course
- Site access provided by an arterial road
- Higher capital and operational costs due to pump station, longer forcemains and gravity mains
- Reduced area for public dog walking
- Limited visual screening to east and south
- Sewer right-of-way would be cleared through Mystic Vale, a sensitive old forest habitat
- Increased tree windthrow hazard near right-of-way
Estimated capital costs: $149.1 million
Estimated operating costs: $2.5 million per year
Next Steps
Community Engagement
Neighbourhood consultation in Saanich East will be divided into two steps. Step 1 (Fall 2009) involves the selection of a site; Step 2 will focus on the specific isues related to the site, including design, fit, mitigation and possible community benefits.
Saanich East-North Oak Bay Open Houses
& Neighbourhood Workshops
The open house sessions provided information on potential treatment facility locations in the Saanich East-North Oak Bay area. Display boards and handouts presented information about the wastewater treatment system and the need for a facility in Saanich East-North Oak Bay. Residents learned the results of studies conducted and asked questions of the CRD staff and consultants. This information is also available on the wastewater website.
The workshops provided a forum for residents to share their views and help the CRD obtain input on the candidate sites. Community input will be recorded by staff and comments were collected for a staff report. Public comments that were specific to environmental and social topics were summarized for inclusion in the Environmental and Social Review assessment and report to the Core Area Liquid Waste Management Committee.
The Decision Process
After the conclusion of the Saanich East-North Oak Bay open houses and neighbourhood workshops, the CRD reviewed public comments.
Read the Public Consultation Summary Report for SENOB (PDF 
)
Environmental & Social Review
An Environmental and Social Review (ESR) was completed for the Saanich East-North Oak Bay facility. The ESR examines physical, cultural, biological and community effects of the proposed wastewater facilities. The results of this assessment, when combined with a triple bottom line analysis, will help the Core Area Liquid Waste Management Committee (CALWMC) determine how to move forward with wastewater treatment.
Triple Bottom Line Analysis
The TBL Analysis provides CALWMC with a way of comparing the suitability of each site based on weighted scores of socio-community, economic and environmental ratings. These ratings help support the selection process, in conjunction with consultation results, technical studies and the ESR.
Read the TBL Analysis for SENOB (PDF )
Environmental Impact Study
Once a site is selected, a provincially mandated Environmental Impact Study (EIS) will be conducted. The Ministry of Environment uses the EIS as part of its review of the CRD’s Liquid Waste Management Plan amendment that would include a facility in Saanich East-North Oak Bay.
The ESR and the EIS will ensure that the potential project effects will be fully examined. CALWMC will make the final decision as to where the Saanich East-North Oak Bay facility should be located. Construction is expected to begin in 2010.
Maps: Saanich East - North Oak Bay Wastewater Treatment Candidate Sites
Click on maps to enlarge.
For high resolution images of each map, please see the PDF version of each map.
UVic Cedar Hill Corner Siting Maps (Cedar Hill X Road)
UVic Cedar Hill Corner Candidate Site Facility Footprint (PDF )
UVic Cedar Hill Corner Candidate Site Infrastructure (PDF )
Finnerty-Arbutus Siting Maps
Finnerty-Arbutus Candidate Site Facility Footprint (PDF )
Finnerty-Arbutus Candidate Site Infrastructure (PDF )
Uvic Fields Siting Maps
UVic Fields Candidate Site
Facility Footprint (PDF )
UVic Fields Candidate Site Infrastructure (PDF )