‘These are very small non-conformances:’ RDN responds to Duke Point sewage advisory notice

“When you look at the amount of time, these are very small non-conformances over very, very short periods of time, which is quite remarkable actually that we are able to do as good as we do.”

Woods stated they followed up with the individual site inspector and ministry to confirm that their Duke Point facility is meeting all regulatory requirements.

Effluent at the RDN’s four pollution control centres are all subject to lab testing, Woods said, with those out of compliance results self-reported to the ministry.

“We ensure that we immediately inform the ministry, we complete corrective actions to fix whatever is wrong, and then we follow-up with a full investigation.”

The ministry’s report also pointed to a Nov. 14, 2023 power outage causing an equipment failure, sending improperly treated wastewater into Northumberland Channel between Duke Point and Gabriola Island.

According to the ministry, the RDN didn’t reveal the emergency until nearly 70 days later.

Woods said they weren’t trying to hide anything, stating a simple administrative error was made.

‘We incorrectly submitted a spill notification to the ministry for that instance, and it should have been categorized as a non-compliance.”

Woods confirmed the Duke Point Pollution Control Centre does not have a generator in cases of power outages, noting the piece of equipment is planned for future investment.

She said generators are brought on site when required.

The RDN”s Duke Point facility is small, discharging about 135 cubic meters of wastewater daily, primarily from the nearby B.C. Ferries terminal, Woods noted.

Rob Skwarczynski, the RDN’s supt. of wastewater operations, said a notification system, which includes alarms, informs their team members in instances of effluent detected beyond provincial standards.

He said issues are often immediately addressed.

“Typically, our operations team, maintenance team, and lab team work together to pinpoint what the root cause was and how to mitigate it.”

Wastewater at all RDN pollution control centres undergo regular testing, including Duke Point, Skwarczynksi said.

“We go above and beyond what is required just to ensure that we’re not waiting say every month for a test, we’re doing it every day or every week to be better than what’s required.”

Staff at the RDN’s pollution control centre facilities are obligated to follow the terms of an operational certificate, which includes protecting human, marine and environmental health.

Sewage treatment for the entire mid-Island region is the RDN’s responsibility, representing service provided for about 180,000 people between Cassidy and Deep Bay.

An expected pending four-year construction project will expand a pivotal 4.6 kilometre RDN sewer line linking the Departure Bay Pump Station, which will also be renewed, to the Greater Nanaimo Pollution Control Centre on McGuffie Rd.

The RDN expects a traffic management plan to be presented at a Nanaimo City Council meeting in May.

The sewer line’s path is primarily beneath Hammond Bay Rd., which will result in extended traffic disruptions.

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by Ian Holmes

‘These are very small non-conformances:’ RDN responds to Duke Point sewage advisory notice

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