The Regional District of Central Okanangan operates a Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR) Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). The Westside Regional Wastewater Treatment plant is located on Gellatly Road and receives wastewater from the District of West Kelowna, the District of Peachland and Westbank First Nation Reserves #9 and #10.  The original plant was commissioned and put into service in 1989.   Stage 1 Upgrades were commissioned in 1994 and Stage 2 Upgrades were commissioned in the spring of 2007.

The original treatment plant was designed for a service population of 7,000 people and a nominal hydraulic capacity of 2,800 cubic meters of wastewater per day. The Stage 1 and 2 Upgrades were each designed to service a population of 14,000 people and a nominal hydraulic capacity of 5,600 cubic meters per day, bringing the combined service to 35,000 people and a nominal hydraulic capacity to 14,000 cubic meters per day. The original treatment plant has been taken out of service. The proposed Stage 3 Upgrades (in design with construction anticipated to commence in late 2010) will allow the plant to provide wastewater treatment for approximately 42,000 people with a nominal hydraulic capacity of 16,800 cubic meters per day.

Influent wastewater enters the plant through a Parshall Flume (to provide control and monitoring of flow) and is then screened and degritted prior to receiving primary clarification. The plant operates a secondary treatment process called the “Westbank Process” an internationally recognized process of treating wastewater. The Westbank Process is based on the 3-Stage Bardenpho process with provisions for a Return Activated Sludge denitrification upstream of the anaerobic zone. Each bioreactor feeds a dedicated secondary clarifier. The effluent undergoes tertiary treatment via filtration and Ultra Violet disinfection. The tertiary treated effluent from the plant is discharged into Okanagan Lake through an outfall.

The primary solids stream at the treatment plant undergoes fermentation, while the waste secondary solids stream is treated with a DAF thickener. Both streams are pumped to a centrifuge for dewatering with the dewatered sludge trucked off site for disposal.

User Fees

User fees are required to pay for operation and maintenance costs and to set aside funds for future equipment repairs and replacements.  For detailed sewer system fees view an electronic version of Consolidated Sewer Systems Bylaw No. 1171 which is provided for convenience only.  For more information, email us at engineering@cord.bc.ca or call 250-469-6241.