Nelson residents are being asked to help guide the development of a new Liquid Waste Management Plan (LWMP), including where a new treatment plant could go.
The city has launched the first phase of public engagement for its LWMP, which the city described in a press release as a document that guides infrastructure, policies and programs for handling wastewater.
An online survey will be open until Oct. 31, inviting resident feedback on possible treatment plant locations.
Information collected will help shape decisions, including:
where the treatment facility should be built
what level of treatment should be targeted
whether reclaimed water is worth exploring
what matters most to residents and businesses
Nelson’s current wastewater treatment plan has been in place for more than 50 years, but the city said aging infrastructure and new regulatory standards require a major reinvestment.
“This process is about more than pipes and pumps,” said Colin Innes, director of engineering, capital works and special projects with the city.
“It’s about clean water, a healthy Kootenay River, long-term affordability, and how we protect public spaces, ecosystems and future growth.”
Proposed locations
The city identified six potential sites for the new facility, four of which were long-listed and two shortlisted. Each was evaluated for environmental risk, cost, compatibility with infrastructure and community impact.
The long-listed sites are:
Railtown (former Canadian Pacific Railway lands)
former Kootenay Forest Products site
Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railway lands
airport lands
The shortlisted sites are the current location at Grohman Narrows and the former landfill site at 70 Lakeside Dr.
Residents are invited to review the pros and cons of the long-listed sites and compare them with the two shortlisted locations.
Considerations included whether the site is on city-owned property, its proximity to housing and whether it is above the flood plain.
The survey is available here.
Paper copies are also available at city hall and the Nelson Public Library.
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