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<\/p>\n\u201cWhen 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Woods stated they followed up with the individual site inspector and ministry to confirm that their Duke Point facility is meeting all\u00a0regulatory requirements.<\/p>\n
Effluent at the RDN\u2019s four pollution control centres are all subject to lab testing, Woods said, with those out of compliance results self-reported to the ministry.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
The ministry\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
According to the ministry, the RDN didn\u2019t reveal the emergency until nearly 70 days later.<\/p>\n
Woods said they weren\u2019t trying to hide anything, stating a simple administrative error was made.<\/p>\n
\u2018We incorrectly submitted a spill notification to the ministry for that instance, and it should have been categorized as a non-compliance.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
She said generators are brought on site when required.<\/p>\n
The RDN\u201ds Duke Point facility is small, discharging about 135 cubic meters of wastewater daily, primarily from the nearby B.C. Ferries terminal, Woods noted.<\/p>\n
Rob Skwarczynski, the RDN\u2019s supt. of wastewater operations, said a notification system, which includes alarms, informs their team members in instances of effluent detected beyond provincial standards.<\/p>\n
He said issues are often immediately addressed.<\/p>\n
\u201cTypically, our operations team, maintenance team, and lab team work together to pinpoint what the root cause was and how to mitigate it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wastewater at all RDN pollution control centres undergo regular testing, including Duke Point, Skwarczynksi said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe go above and beyond what is required just to ensure that we\u2019re not waiting say every month for a test, we\u2019re doing it every day or every week to be better than what\u2019s required.\u201d<\/p>\n
Staff at the RDN\u2019s pollution control centre facilities are obligated to follow the terms of an operational certificate, which includes protecting human, marine and environmental health.<\/p>\n
Sewage treatment for the entire mid-Island region is the RDN\u2019s responsibility, representing service provided for about 180,000 people between Cassidy and Deep Bay.<\/p>\n
An expected pending four-year construction project<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n The RDN expects a traffic management plan to be presented at a Nanaimo City Council meeting in May.<\/p>\n The sewer line\u2019s path is primarily beneath Hammond Bay Rd., which will result in extended traffic disruptions.<\/p>\n Local news. Delivered. Free.\u00a0Subscribe to our daily news wrap<\/a>\u00a0and get our top local stories delivered to your email inbox every evening.<\/p>\n info@nanaimonewsnow.com<\/a><\/p>\n Follow us on:\u00a0Twitter (X)<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Bluesky<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n