Liquid Waste Management Plan
The City of Castlegar is developing a Liquid Waste Management Plan (LWMP) to guide the City’s management of liquid waste over the next 20 years.
What is a Liquid Waste Management Plan?
A LWMP is a legal document approved by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (MOE). A LWMP enables municipalities to develop holistic plans for liquid waste management that consider the unique needs of the community, businesses, and geography, while meeting environmental regulations.
A LWMP requires community engagement and feedback and occurs over three distinct phases set out by the Ministry of Environment:
- Define the baseline and answer the question “where are we now?”
- Set the goals, using the Community Plan to answer “where do we want to end up?”
- Develop a long list of options to figure out “how do we want to get there?”
- Screen options to get a short list, and identify what information we need to continue evaluating the short list.
- Close the information gaps identified at the end of Stage 1 and evaluate how they impact the short list of options.
- Select one option to proceed to Stage 3.
- Complete a detailed study of the preferred option and steps for implementation. This will become the road map for the City and Council to follow.
- Develop a financing plan to determine how the City will fund the plan and the work involved to realize it.
- Council adopts and implements the plan, and it is approved by the MOE.
At each stage, a report is written that is approved by Council and sent to the Ministry of Environment for approval. Once the Stage 3 report is adopted by Council and approved by the MOE, the City may begin enacting the plan.
Community Engagement & Consultation
An LWMP requires significant community engagement to ensure that the plan to addresses community concerns and suits the priorities of the public, businesses, and Indigenous communities. Engagement with interest holders in the community is taking place in a number of ways:
- Indigenous consultation
- Committees
- Surveys and Open Houses
Indigenous Consultation
The City is reaching out to Indigenous communities separately through a government-to-government process. All Indigenous communities and organizations will be invited to participate in meetings, online surveys, and all other public processes.
Committees
An Advisory Committee made up of members of the public is being formed for the LWMP. This committee will be made up of members of the public who will be able to speak to a broad range of interests, including community groups, business interests, technical experts, and more. The Advisory Committee will help plan other consultation with the broader public and will be asked to speak to their expertise when evaluating options brought forward by the consultants hired by the City to develop options. The feedback from the Advisory Committee will be used by the Steering Committee and council to determine best options and make decisions.
Surveys & Open Houses
The City will be reaching out to the public with surveys and open houses. The feedback from these processes will be used to inform the options presented to the Advisory and Steering Committees and Council.
Why Develop an LWMP Now?
The City has completed several studies on wastewater treatment in recent years which have outlined various challenges to liquid waste management in the City, including:
- Should the two wastewater treatment plants be combined into one plant? Where should that plant be situated?
- How should the City manage, mitigate, and/or eliminate the odour issues at the South Sewage Treatment Plant?
- The North Sewage Treatment plant may need upgrades in the near future. What considerations should be included in the design?
- How should the City manage unsewered areas like Blueberry? Or future unsewered areas not yet within City limits?
Rather than look at each challenge and solution individually, a LWMP looks at the entire City to create a single plan to address community challenges, as well as any others that come up during consultation and investigation.
Get Involved!
A key component across all stages of a LWMP is engagement with the public and consultation with Indigenous communities. Get involved by sharing your input.
1. Apply to be on the LWMP Advisory Committee
The Advisory Committee will help ensure that programs and policies are in the best interests of residents, businesses, and other interested parties in the City. There will be approximately 10 members of the Advisory Committee who will represent a broad spectrum of interests in the community to ensure the LWMP considers community, business, and environmental interests.
LWMP Advisory Committee Terms of Reference
To apply, submit a Statement of Interest by June 15, 2023 to bseabrook@castlegar.ca with the subject line “LWMP Advisory Committee” and include the following information:
- Your full name and address
- A brief summary of any recent experience as a member of a committee that served a public interest and how you were able to fulfil your commitment to that group
- A description of your familiarity and interest in liquid waste services and/or how the aquatic environment and sanitary services affect your sector of the community e.g. industry, tourism, etc.
- A brief statement of your desire to participate and collaborate with others over a multi-year planning process.
2. Get Informed
Continue to check back on the project web page for additional project information and upcoming engagement opportunities.
3. Ask Questions
Want more details on the project process? Please contact Travis Christianson at tchristianson@castlegar.ca.
4. Fill Out the Survey
We will be launching a survey later in early Summer 2023. Please check back later for more details!
Project Timeline
- Gather Input: Spring 2023
- Stage 1 Report – Issues, Options and What We Heard: Late Spring/Early Summer 2023
- Council Feedback on Stage 1 Report: Summer 2023
- Ministry of Environment Review of Stage 1 Report: Summer 2023
- Stage 2 Engagement Plan: Fall 2023
- Stage 2: 2024*
- Stage 3: 2025*
*Timeline to be updated for Stage 2 and 3 following completion of Phase 1
How Are Decisions Being Made?
As part of the LWMP process, there are two committees that will receive reports and options from the consultant team and use public feedback to provide comment and direction to the plan. It is the responsibility of council to approve the direction established at the end of each phase of the process.
Advisory Committee
- assist in developing guiding principles for the LWMP
- read background reports and contribute perspectives and general guidance
- assist in identifying and connecting the City with key interest groups
- provide input on the public participation and communications processes
Steering Committee
- read background reports and provide perspectives and guidance
- provide overall direction to the LWMP process
- represent the process to Council
Castlegar City Council
- receive reports for information from the Steering Committee
- review final reports and provide feedback or endorsement
- adopt the final report and empower staff to intiate the plan
Municipal Services
Liquid Waste
Liquid waste is also referred to as wastewater, sewage, and stormwater runoff. Anything that is flushed down a toilet, or poured down a sink or drain, or water that falls on roads, becomes liquid waste.
LWMP Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know to get involved with the Liquid Waste Management Plan.