By David Wiwchar

BC threatens $1M in fines

City to fix sewage ponds

Mar 6, 2026 | 9:19 AM

The city is facing the threat of a million dollars in fines after a provincial inspector found 20 problems at the sewage ponds.

Some of the charges relate to the size and substance of effluent discharges.

Jim McDonald, the city’s Director of Infrastructure Services said the wastewater treatment facility will be in compliance soon.

“We did have some effluent exceedances that occurred this past year. When those results came in we immediately reported them to the Ministry, so I just want to stress that there’s not been any harmful effect to the environment based around any of these deficiencies,” he said. “We’re just doing our best to work within a new operating certificate and there’s always going to be some bumps to figure out in order to meet all those requirements so we’re confident will be back in compliance in very short order.”

McDonald said initial negative lab results were challenged, and an independent second lab determined releases were well within environmental limits.

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The city has spent tens of millions of dollars over the past decade to bring the former Catalyst ponds into compliance as a long-term replacement for the old sewage lagoon at the Somass estuary.