The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary (RDKB) has broken ground on a $76 million upgrade project for the Columbia Pollution Control Centre in Trail, British Columbia. This significant investment will modernize the aging facility, originally built in the 1970s, bringing it up to secondary treatment standards. The upgraded center will better serve the communities of Trail, Rossland, Warfield, Rivervale, and Oasis.
The modernization is crucial for meeting evolving environmental regulations and protecting the Columbia River ecosystem. “This project is vital for maintaining the environmental integrity of our region and ensuring that we are good stewards of our natural resources,” said Andy Morel, Chair of the RDKB Board.
The current facility provides primary treatment with disinfection before discharging effluent into the Columbia River, but it no longer meets regulations. The upgraded plant will not only comply with provincial and federal standards but also increase capacity by over 50%. Furthermore, the new facility will incorporate sustainable features, including waste effluent heat recovery for building heating (reducing natural gas consumption) and reclaimed treated wastewater for non-potable uses (reducing potable water consumption by up to 200,000 liters per day).
The $76 million project is a joint funding effort:
- Government of Canada: $25.2 million
- Province of British Columbia: $20.8 million (through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program’s Green Infrastructure Environmental Quality Stream)
- RDKB: $30 million (long-term loan)
“By investing in the Columbia Pollution Control Centre, our government will ensure communities have the ability to provide clean and reliable water in the region,” said Federal Minister Harjit Sajjan.
“This project will modernize wastewater treatment to meet today’s environmental standards, ensuring clean water and a more sustainable future for people in the Kootenay region,” added Ravi Kahlon, BC’s Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs.
Construction is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2026.