Wasted no longer

By Cat George - Peninsula News Review Published: December 23, 2008

Wastewater energy captured to heat local institutions. Effluent in, heat out: that’ll be the new equation at the Saanich Peninsula Wastewater Treatment Plant, as $2.98-million in funding from the federal Gas Tax Fund will allow the plant to build an energy recovery system that will capture thermal energy from the effluent. The thermal energy will then be passed down the line to provide hot water and space heating, not only at the treatment centre itself, but at a number of surrounding institutions. “This is truly a remarkable project,” said Gary Lunn, MP for Saanich-Gulf Islands. “It’s one that I’m quite passionate about.” Lunn, who returned from duties in Ottawa to make the funding announcement, joked that “the only way they let me come home is if I have to make an announcement.” The gas tax fund, with funds distributed in a partnership between the federal government, provincial government, and the Union of BC Municipalities, targets infrastructure projects that can provide cleaner water, air, or reduced greenhouse gas emissions for a community. The wastewater energy recovery system will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by tapping an alternate source of energy for four facilities: the treatment plant, Panorama Recreation Centre, the Centre for Plant Health, and the new Kelset school.

The project will be on the cutting edge of waste recovery technology as up until now the maximum distance from the heat recovery source to end users has been 500 metres. This project will take that to 600 metres. Transmission pipes will be sized to enable maximum energy capture from the effluent, which will allow for future energy users to be added on, and there will also be a micro-turbine installed at the wastewater treatment plant outfall to generate electricity. “This kind of technology is drawing praise around the world,” said Lunn, who is currently Minister for Sport. “We’re using the same technology to heat the athletes’ village for the 2010 Olympics.” Lunn referred to the current economic situation and the necessity for forward-thinking infrastructure projects. “We’re in pretty tough economic times, we’re seeing belt-tightening,” he said. “When we do innovative projects like this, it’s wonderful.” Ida Chong, MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head, was also on hand for the announcement, noting that Saanich North and the Islands MLA Murray Coell was out of town. “It’s important that we find ways to take waste and turn it into a resource,” she said, adding that she has visited many wastewater facilities and knows the impact a project like this can have. “When you get state of the art technology, people will come out to look at that,” she said. “It will free up dollars for other operating expenses.”

Oak Bay mayor Chris Causton was at the announcement as well, in his role as a Union of BC Municipalities executive member. UBCM administers the gas tax fund in BC, in collaboration with both the federal and provincial governments. “This is deja vu,” Causton said. “I opened this place in February 2000, as chair of the CRD board.” He mentioned that at the time, there were a lot of odour problems with the plant that have since, he said, been dealt with. “Congratulations to the staff and the CRD for managing that.” He added that this was the third gas tax funded-project in the CRD (the first two were the E&N Rail Trail and the CRD’s fleet expansion for BC Transit) and that he hoped to see more in the future. Construction on the project is expected to begin in the spring of 2009.