The District of Sparwood (district) is authorized to operate a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) through a permit under the Environmental Management Act, through the B.C. Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy.

A central component to the district’s WWTP is the secondary treatment process. This is the original secondary system installed and is due for upgrades. The secondary treatment maintenance and capacity upgrade was identified in the 20-year capital planning and staff started to move forward with the project in 2020.

The district has now completed detail design and moving towards contractor procurement (tender process). The current consultant Class I estimate for the plant was estimated at just over $19 million including construction contingency. This only includes the estimate for construction. Costs for engineering design, engineering contract management, legal, regulatory approvals, internal wages and contingency increase the estimate to $31 million.

The capital plan has built in further contingency for change orders, engineering and inspection, post construction inspections and additional process adjustments required shortly after the project is complete.

The Wastewater Treatment Plant Loan Authorization Borrowing Bylaw No. 1342, 2025 was given third reading on January 21, 2025. A certified copy of the bylaw and relevant background information was forwarded to the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs (ministry) for provincial review. Following completion of the ministry staff’s review of the documentation provided for legislative compliance and financial viability, the Deputy Inspector of Municipalities issued statutory approval on March 12.

Now that statutory approval is granted, the district can proceed with the next steps in the Alternative Approval Process (AAP). As required under the Community Charter, council must establish the deadline for receiving Elector Response Forms, approve the Elector Response Form, and make a fair determination as the total number of electors applicable to the AAP.

Council approved the Elector Response Form for conducting the Alternative Approval Process for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Loan Authorization Borrowing Bylaw No. 1342, 2025; established 4 p.m. local time on June 5, as the deadline for receiving elector responses; and established 3,015 electors as the total number of electors for the District of Sparwood.

Next steps are to post notice and communicate the Alternate Approval Process for the public.

District of Sparwood

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