Metro Vancouver is undertaking the fifth stage of a major ongoing expansion at the Annacis Island Wastewater Treatment Plant in Delta.
City council recently granted an exemption from Delta’s noise control bylaw for onsite construction for continuous work Monday through Sunday, up to Dec. 31, 2021.
Metro’s Stage 5 Expansion Project includes the construction of new primary treatment facilities, solids contact tanks and other works including as associated channel works.
The project also includes modifications within the existing plant areas.
A Delta staff report notes the construction activities include dewatering, well installation, earthworks, structural concrete, mechanical and electrical installations.
Precautions are being taken to keep the night work noise levels as low as possible and noisy equipment, such as jack hammers, are not used at night.
The noise caused by the construction activities during the Stage 5 Expansion Project is anticipated to be minimal beyond the property line, and should not impact the neighbouring commercial and industrial properties, according to the report, which notes the city has not received any noise complaints since expansion work commenced in 2014.
Metro Vancouver has been working in a multi-phased approach on increasing the capacity of the current facility to meet the growing population’s needs and includes over 20 projects.
The projects range from building a new outfall pipe to carry treated wastewater from the plant to the Fraser River, increasing the size of the plant and its ability to treat more wastewater, repairing or replacing older parts of the existing plant, strengthening the plant to reduce the impacts of an earthquake, improving existing odour controls and building a more reliable back‑up power source.
The Annacis Island Wastewater Treatment Plant currently treats wastewater using primary and secondary treatment technologies for 14 municipalities.
Metro notes an expanded facility will ensure that the plant can manage a higher volume of wastewater, continue to keep odour to a minimum and will continue to operate in the event of a major earthquake.
The regional district says construction in the river will take place between 2020 and 2022.
