Greater Nanaimo Pollution Control Centre

Wastewater from approximately 93,000 people in the City of Nanaimo, Snuneymuxw First Nation, and parts of Lantzville is treated at the Greater Nanaimo Pollution Control Centre (GNPCC). Wastewater is gravity fed and pumped to GNPCC via three pump stations - Wellington Pump Station, Departure Bay Pump Station and Chase River Pump Station. The Chase River Pump station also has a septage receiving site that accepts septage from residential onsite (septic) systems and wastewater from pump-and-haul clients.

The GNPCC uses chemically-enhanced primary treatment to remove 30-40% of BOD and 50% of TSS. It also uses a cogeneration system that converts waste gas from the digesters to electricity that can be used to power the plant. To learn more, please visit our Treatment Processes page. Upgrades are underway to provide secondary treatment to improve effluent quality. Secondary treatment is able to remove up to 90% of BOD and 50% of TSS.

Effluent is discharged into the Strait of Georgia 2,030 m offshore at a depth of 70 m.

Major Projects & Improvements

2017-2019	Secondary Treatment Upgrade Project
2014-2016	Upgrading and replacing the outfall
2013	Construction of Sedimentation Tank 4, to improve plant efficiencies and support increasing flows
2011-2013	Construction of a third digester to improve plant efficiencies and support increasing flows
2009-2012	Construction and commissioning of a Cogeneration system
2008-2012	Phase II Odour Control installed
2007-2009	Gravity Thickeners constructed to improve solids handling
2005-2007	Phase I Odour Control installed
2002	Introduction of Chemically Enhanced Primary Treatment
1988-1990	Stage II expansion to improve plant efficiencies and support increasing flows
1972	The RDN took over operational responsibility of GNPCC
1971-1974	Construction of GNPCC with Primary Treatment, ending the discharge of raw sewage to the Strait of Georgia.

Construction of the Secondary Treatment Upgrade Project

Construction of the third digester

GNPCC outfall replacement

Wastewater Services | 6300 Hammond Bay Road | Nanaimo, BC V9T 6N2 | E-mail: [email protected]
Telephone: 250-390-6560 (Nanaimo) 250-954-3792 (Oceanside) 1-877-607-4111 (Toll Free)
1-800-862-3429 (Emergency) | 250-390-1542 (Fax)