Several years ago, Metro Vancouver developed the region's first-ever Liquid Waste Management Plan (LWMP). The plan is designed to protect the region's outstanding livability and environmental quality and lays out the steps needed to enhance the current system as we prepare for population increases.

Liquid Waste Management Plan (LWMP)
"The region will manage waste in a manner that enhances environmental quality” is a key principle of the first LWMP that was adopted by all member municipalities in 2001 and approved by the Province of B.C. under the Waste Management Act in 2002.

Metro Vancouver has developed the overall plan to help conserve resources, maintain our existing infrastructure and stretch capacity of the system by maximizing the benefit from each dollar spent.

Everyday in Metro Vancouver we produce approximately one billion litres of wastewater – or liquid waste – simply by carrying out our daily activities. How we manager the liquid waste has an effect on our environment and the livability of our region.

Metro Vancouver is updating its 2001 Liquid Waste Management Plan (LWMP), which guides liquid waste programs and services in the region. The LWMP update focuses on two goals:
• Protecting public health and the environment; and
• Managing liquid wastes affordably and effectively.

Consultation Process
Metro Vancouver held a consultation process, between March 6 and May 30, 2008, to provide opportunities to receive input from citizens, municipalities, non-governmental organizations, businesses and First Nations on its Strategy for Updating the Liquid Waste Management Plan. As part of this process, Metro Vancouver held nine public meetings and nine municipal workshops across the region. Further public consultation on the draft LWMP will be held.

The report to the July 9, 2008 Waste Management Committee meeting (Section 5.1) summarizes the consultation process and input received. Attachments, titled Issues, Comments and Metro Vancouver Responses, contain summaries of public, municipal, and reference panel feedback.

 July 9, 2008 Waste Management Committee Meeting Agenda

To learn more about the Strategy for Updating the Liquid Waste Management Plan, please view our public meeting presentation and information panels.

Reference Panel
As part of the consultation process on the Strategy for Updating the Liquid Waste Management Plan, Metro Vancouver formed a panel consisting of technical experts, practitioners, citizens, and representatives from non-governmental organizations.

The panel provided Metro Vancouver with comments and advice regarding the strategies and will further comment on the subsequent draft plan.

Three meetings, open to the public, were held at the Metro Vancouver head office (4330 Kingsway).

See July 9, 2008 Waste Management Committee Meeting Agenda for details regarding Reference Panel input.

Documentation of all written input and communication activities entitled Consultation on the Strategy for Updating the Liquid Waste Management Plan – Report on Activities and Feedback March 6 – May 30, 2008 (Volume 1 and Volume 2) is available from the Metro Vancouver Information Centre by calling 604-432-6200.