Wastewater Treatment Plant

Tofino, B.C. – The District of Tofino is proud to announce that the Tofino Wastewater Treatment Plant is now operational. This milestone marks a significant achievement for the community, highlighting years of dedicated effort and collaboration with local First Nations, the Tofino community, and Federal & Provincial Government partners.

Tofino is located on the traditional territory of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation in the heart of the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, renowned for its natural beauty and rich marine ecosystems. The new wastewater treatment plant ensures that Tofino’s sewage is treated responsibly, protecting this unique marine environment for future generations. The project, valued at $79.25 million, is the largest capital project the District of Tofino has ever undertaken and will end the decades-long practice of discharging untreated effluent into the marine environment.

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The District of Tofino has recently achieved a major milestone with the operational status of the wastewater treatment plant. This project has been a priority for the District, highlighting its commitment to environmental stewardship, public health, and the protection of Tofino’s unique marine ecosystems.

Thank you to everyone who attended the ceremony!

Watch the Ceremony on YouTube

The District of Tofino wishes to inform residents about scheduled sewage tie-ins for the Wastewater Treatment Plant.

This work will happen daily from August 12 to August 27, 2024, in areas between Industrial Way and downtown Tofino.

Some work will be done at night when sewage flows are lower, but most will happen during the day. Residents can expect traffic delays of up to 10 minutes at times at various locations throughout the impacted area. There will be no disruptions to water service.

When this work is completed, all sewage in Tofino will now be routed to the new wastewater treatment plant. This means Tofino will start treating raw sewage, which will end the decades-long practice of discharging untreated effluent into the marine environment – a significant milestone for the community.

Take notice that the Director intends to issue OPERATIONAL CERTIFICATE 110053 to the District of Tofino for the Municipal Wastewater Treatment Facility located at 620 Industrial Way, Tofino, BC. The Operational Certificate complies with the Liquid Waste Management Plan last updated and approved by the Minister in 2018. The Operational Certificate will be issued a minimum of 30 days after the last date of publication of this notice.

The Operational Certificate authorizes the discharge of secondary treated and disinfected municipal sewage to the marine environment of Duffin Passage. The discharge will replace the existing untreated municipal sewage discharge at the same location.

A digital copy of the draft Operational Certificate will be made available upon request to Simon Kirkland, District of Tofino’s Manager of Infrastructure and Capital Projects, at skirkland@tofino.ca. A Physical copy may be viewed at District of Tofino’s Municipal Office at 121 third St., Tofino, BC between 9 AM-12 PM and 1 PM-4 PM, Monday to Friday, excluding holidays.

Any comments regarding the proposed Operational Certificate must be sent to Simon Kirkland, District of Tofino’s Manager of Infrastructure and Capital Projects, at skirkland@tofino.ca with a copy to the Director’s designate (Melanie Mamoser, melanie.mamoser@gov.bc.ca) within 30 days after the last date of publication of this notice. The identity of any respondents and the contents of anything submitted in relation to this application will become part of the public record.

OPERATIONAL CERTIFICATE (LINK)

The District of Tofino would like to provide an update on the ongoing Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) project.

The project has successfully completed its initial three-day recirculation run test, ensuring that all plant equipment operates as intended.

In the coming weeks, the project team will initiate programming and controls to automate the plant while simulating various flow conditions to ensure optimal performance. The conveyance system is nearly ready for start-up and testing. Once completed, there will be a series of seven shutdowns and tie-ins. This process will transfer the District’s sanitary collection system to the WWTP, allowing for the discharge of secondary treated effluent through the new outfall at the end of Cedar Street.

The project team is on schedule to achieve operational sewer treatment by September 2024, with the necessary tie-ins occurring throughout August 2024.

District staff and the project team appreciate the public's patience during this critical infrastructure project.

Overhead View of the Wastewater Treatment Plant

In 2023, significant strides were taken in the Wastewater Treatment Plant project, marking a pivotal year for the District of Tofino as it advanced efforts to treat liquid waste in accordance with federal and provincial effluent criteria prior to its release into the marine environment.

The project teams have worked to complete the following:

• Civil/structural work completed at the Wastewater Treatment Plant location
• Tanks & building installation completed
• All major process equipment delivered to the site
• Mechanical & electrical work underway
• 90% of conveyance piping installed
• Structural work on pump stations completed
• Procurement of pumps, generators, odour control units & electrical kiosks underway for 2024 installation at pump stations

The project remains on schedule for December 2024 completion, with operations commencing in September 2024 to work through performance testing.

The Wastewater Treatment Plant project is firmly on track for its scheduled completion in December 2024, and operational activities are set to commence in September 2024 to conduct thorough performance testing. This strategic timeline ensures that the project progresses seamlessly toward its finalization while allowing for meticulous evaluation and optimization of its operational efficiency.

Public Notice: Wastewater Treatment Plant Conveyance Works - Arnet Road, Cedar Street and Centennial Park.

Site preparation work has begun in the Centennial Park/Cedar St neighbourhood. Crews will begin August 16 to excavate and install conveyance pipe through Centennial Park, Arnet Road and Cedar Street to the outfall pipe in Duffin Cove. Expect disruptions in this area. Please obey all signs and traffic control personnel.

• No RV parking (currently zoned area) or any parking on Arnet Road Between First St and Cedar St

• RV’s can Park at the Tofino Community Hall (Day use)

• No Parking on First St between Arnet and the North side of Centennial Park (swipe to see map)

• Full work zone as per plan is in effect Wednesday August 16th

Crews are planning to keep the playground and basketball court open to the public throughout the work. This conveyance work is part of the Wastewater Treatment Plant project.

This is to inform you of the installation of a marine outfall pipe to be towed through the Tofino (Načiks) Harbour on Monday July 3, 2023.

Mariners and landing/departing aircraft are requested to avoid the pipeline construction area (Duffin Cove), exercise caution along the towing route (Tofino/Načiks Harbour), and be aware of floating pipelines, barges, and divers working from vessels.

Yellow indicates primary route, red indicates secondary route

As of June 26, 2023, construction on the Wastewater Treatment Plant continues to make progress

• Steel EQ, IFAS and Secondary clarifier tanks are almost fully erected on site
• Mechanical building and Headworks Build steel Mezzanines are erected
• Process pipe racking and process piping currently being installed – continuous
• Warren Way pump station concrete base slab ready for pour
• Cedar St outfall clearing, grubbing and site prep
• Fusing and prepping outfall pipe at Berryman Point – ongoing
• Barging outfall pipe and beginning outfall install July 3^rd

1st Street Pump Station

Wastewater Treatment Plant, June 2023

Wastewater Treatment Plant, June 2023

Construction is planned to begin on June 19, 2023 for the Outfall Pipe along Cedar St and adjacent beach.

Initial grubbing and site setup is set to begin June 19^th, following the in water Outfall works which will continue until the August 9th

Crews have done door knock to the adjacent properties.