Overview of Projects
The Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant is being upgraded to ensure continued protection of public health and the environment in a growing region.
Metro Vancouver wants to ensure the wastewater treatment plant makes a positive contribution to the health and well-being of people and the environment. A number of ecological restoration projects are planned in coordination with the plant upgrades.
About the Treatment Plant
The Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant was built in 1963 and today serves approximately 750,000 residents. The plant serves residents in the Vancouver Sewerage Area, which includes Vancouver, parts of Burnaby and Richmond, the University Endowment Lands, and UBC. The facility processes about 200 billion litres of wastewater each year.
The upgraded plant and complementary ecological projects are being designed to provide:
-
Tertiary wastewater treatment to improve the treated wastewater quality being discharged to the Salish Sea
-
Ecological restoration projects to restore Iona Beach Regional Park’s diverse and sensitive ecosystems, build climate resilience, increase park visitor connection to nature, and create integration between the wastewater treatment plant and Park
-
Resource recovery opportunities to help support the region’s carbon neutrality objectives, by recovering important resources such as reclaimed water for non-potable uses, and biogas captured and used at the plant to generate heat for operations as well as supply for renewable natural gas to the Fortis BC natural gas distribution system
-
Extensive ground improvements to protect the plant from earthquake events and account for future sea level rise this century
The Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant Projects are in the Early Works and Preliminary Design Phase, with work to prepare the site underway.
Location: Richmond
Current Project Work
Early Works and Priority Activities
Metro Vancouver continues to deliver early works and priority activities to prepare the site and inform design. Visitors to xʷəyeyət /Iona Island may see crews conducting work related to the following activities:
- Clean out of treated sludge lagoons west of the existing treatment plant
- Design of a barge berth for transportation of construction materials to and from Iona Island
- Removal of biosolids stockpiles east of the existing treatment plant
- Geotechnical investigations, on land and in-water around Iona Island
- Technical studies for ecological restoration projects
- Work to obtain required permits and approvals
- Improvements to roads and upgraded electrical servicing on Sea Island and Iona Island
We will keep you updated about what to expect on xʷəyeyət/Iona Island and in the surrounding area as the projects progress.
Lagoon Clean Out
Over the next seven years, the existing treated sludge lagoons will be cleaned out to prepare the site and support wastewater treatment plant upgrade construction. Each area will be re-purposed for alternate uses during and after project construction. The sludge lagoons will eventually be transitioned to wetlands, terrestrial habitat, and park amenities that will be integrated into Iona Beach Regional Park.
During clean out operations, a barge floats on the lagoon surface and dredges out biosolids from the bottom of the lagoon. Liquid biosolids are then pumped through two centrifuges located on a concrete dewatering pad to separate the water and biosolids.
In spring 2023, water is expected to be removed from the southeast lagoon. Clean out operations on the other sludge lagoons will begin in spring 2024 for approximately nine months, and occur yearly until 2030. Work will occur from 6:00 am to 7:00 pm, Monday to Saturday.
Metro Vancouver will continue to monitor and mitigate noise, odour, and wildlife impacts throughout operations.
Barge Berth Design
Metro Vancouver has proposed the design of a barge berth located on the North Arm of the Fraser River in proximity to the new Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant. Constructing a temporary barge berth will help reduce construction traffic on Ferguson Road and will improve safety for cyclists, pedestrians, and vehicles travelling to xʷəyeyət/Iona Island, which is only accessible via a two-lane road.
The barge berth will:
- Replace approximately 260 to 270 dump trucks per day
- Reduce both traffic throughout the Lower Mainland and greenhouse gas emissions, consistent with regional objectives
- Help to minimize costs and delays
The barge berth design process will include further study of potential facility locations. This study will include an assessment of the visual, noise, dust, light, and related health impacts at each of the potential locations.
In summer 2023, Metro Vancouver will provide an engagement opportunity for community members to share their feedback on the barge berth design.
Community Engagement
Metro Vancouver is working closely with key stakeholders, the public, and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Indian Band to consider their interests and the project’s fit with the community.
Metro Vancouver will:
- Provide information in a timely manner
- Listen to interests and priorities
- Collaborate on how the plant is integrated with Iona Beach Regional Park and the surrounding environment
- Collaborate on resource recovery opportunities
- Take feedback to the project team and report back on how it has been addressed
- Establish a single point of contact the community can reach to discuss the projects
Ongoing opportunities for engagement will continue to be provided. Please see the Community Engagement section below for previous engagement activities.
Questions or comments? Please email
ionawwtp@metrovancouver.org.
