Victoria Harbour Wastewater Treatment Plant Capacity Upgrade

The first phase of the Victoria Harbour WWTP expansion focused on essential improvements to enhance the plant’s efficiency and reliability. Key upgrades included:

• New Standby Generator: This upgrade ensures that the plant can continue operating during power outages, minimizing downtime and ensuring uninterrupted service.
• Sand Filter Replacement: The replacement of the sand filters improved the plant’s filtration system, allowing for better treatment and efficiency in removing solids from the wastewater.
• New Headworks Building: This addition provided a more robust and efficient system for preliminary treatment of wastewater, ensuring that large debris and solids are effectively removed before further processing.
• Installation of Ultraviolet (UV) Disinfection Units: These units use UV light to disinfect treated water, reducing the reliance on chemicals and improving the quality of the effluent before it is discharged into the environment.

These upgrades laid the groundwork for Phase 2, addressing immediate capacity issues and ensuring the plant could continue to operate effectively for the time being.

Looking ahead, the second phase of the expansion project will begin in late 2026 and promises to significantly increase the plant's capacity. The new average daily flow is expected to rise to 3,550 cubic meters per day (m³/d), allowing the plant to meet the needs of a growing community. Key elements of Phase 2 include:

• New Biosolids Building: This facility will manage the treatment and disposal of biosolids, ensuring that waste products are properly handled and processed in an environmentally sustainable way.
• Two New Aeration Tanks and Two Aerobic Digesters: The addition of these tanks and digesters will enhance the biological treatment process, increasing the plant's ability to break down organic matter in the wastewater.
• Upgrades to Wet Well Lift Pumps: These improvements will ensure that wastewater is effectively lifted and transported through the treatment plant, increasing operational efficiency.
• New Secondary Clarifier: A 16-meter diameter secondary clarifier will improve the settling process, allowing for more effective separation of solids from treated water.
• Replacement of Aeration Blowers: The plant will see the replacement of three existing aeration blowers, which are crucial for introducing oxygen into the treatment process and promoting the growth of bacteria that break down organic matter.
• HVAC System Upgrades: These upgrades will improve air circulation and temperature control within the facility, ensuring that the plant operates efficiently and safely.

A provincial and federal funding program aimed at supporting municipalities with the costs of upgrading water infrastructure to accommodate growing populations and promote sustainable development. The result of this application was unsuccessful.  

A federal initiative designed to help municipalities improve their infrastructure to support affordable housing and community growth, ensuring that water systems are robust enough to meet the needs of expanding communities. There are no updates for this application at this time.  

A provincial funding program aimed to help municipalities and First Nations build, expand or rehabilitate aging water, wastewater, stormwater, flood and erosion infrastructure. These projects will help preserve the current housing supply and protect communities during extreme weather events. There are no updates for this application at this time.  

• Geotechnical, Hydrogeological and Environmental Investigation Services Tender awarded to WSP Consultants 
• WSP proposed Phase 2 upgrades of the Victoria Harbour Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion to Council in September 2023. The estimated construction cost of Phase 2 was estimated at approximately $37,300,000  
• The tender for the construction works of Phase 2 of the Victoria Harbour WWTP expansion is posted as of February 2024 and closed April 2024 overbudget. 

• The Township applied for government funding under the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund (HEWSF) in February 2024. This application was unsuccessful.  
• The Township applied for the second round of funding under the HEWSF II funding in November 2024. This application was unsuccessful. 
• The Township applied for the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund (CHIF) March 31, 2025. There are no updates available for this application at this time.  
• The Township applied for the Health and Safety Water Stream (HSWS) Funding June 26, 2025. There are no updates available for this application at this time.