The region’s $775-million wastewater-treatment project, due for completion by the end of the year, received a boost Monday with $23 million from the Green Municipal Fund.
The CRD is getting a $20-million loan and a $3-million grant through the fund, which supports municipal sustainability projects across Canada. The money is provided by the federal government and delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
Capital Regional District chairman Colin Plant said the region is thankful for the “impactful contribution” toward the project, which began in 2016.
Currently, untreated sewage is released into Juan de Fuca Strait.
The plant will treat wastewater from Victoria, Esquimalt, Saanich, Oak Bay, View Royal, Langford, Colwood, and the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations. It will use a three-stage process to separate solids from wastewater, break down organic compounds, and filter out contaminants like pharmaceuticals and microplastics.
Design features include a green roof and the use of recovered thermal energy to heat buildings at McLoughlin Point. At Hartland Landfill, the residual solids will be dried using biogas created by the waste digestion process.
Federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities Catherine McKenna said the project is a good example of what can happen when communities and governments come together.
“By investing $23 million in this model of green infrastructure innovation, the Government of Canada is helping to protect Vancouver Island’s precious environment, save money and improve the lives of the more than 320,000 people living in the area.”
