Corrective Measures Taken for Odour-Control at Wastewater Treatment Plant

August 25, 2010... Residents, contractors, and employees in the south end of Whistler can expect some odours at the wastewater treatment plant for up to two days this week as corrective measures are taken to control odours at Whistler's wastewater treatment plant.

To perform corrective work, the existing odour control system must be taken off-line for up to two days. The corrective measures are scheduled for this Friday, August 27, and should be completed by the end of the day.

At a regular Council meeting on July 20, 2010, Mayor Ken Melamed reported that Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) staff were reviewing concerns about odours from Whistler's wastewater treatment plant. Staff discussed concerns with the supplier of the odour control system and believed that the filter medians required for odour control were not meeting their specifications.

Recently the RMOW has had two consultants evaluate the performance of the odour controls system, and their recommendations have been received and evaluated. A contractor has been commissioned to perform the recommended corrections with those works taking place on August 27.

The RMOW thanks community members for their understanding and patience while this work is completed.

About the Wastewater Treatment Plant
Originally constructed in 1978, the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) was expanded in the late 1980s and again in 1997. Pre-design engineering commenced in 2000 for a major upgrade to the WWTP and the RMOW re-issued a tender for the engineering design consultant in 2006.

The most recent upgrades began in 2007 and were completed in the fall of 2009 at a cost of $37.8 million. The upgrades were funded by a combination of municipal reserves, contributions from the federal/provincial infrastructure program, and long-term financing.

Upgrades were designed with sustainability in mind, and included changing the treatment process to greatly reduce the need for chemicals through the use of microbes and ultra violet disinfection. The upgrades also include the development of a one-of-a-kind heating and cooling system - a District Energy System-- that uses ambient heat from treated wastewater for the Cheakamus Crossing neighbourhood.

This innovative District Energy System helped Whistler win the 2009 Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators (CAMA) Environmental Award, the 2008 Community Energy Association's Energy Action Award for Community Planning, the Award of Excellence for Special Projects from the Association of Canadian Consulting Engineers, 2009 Canadian Consulting Engineering Awards as well as a VANOC Sustainability Star.