Wastewater Treatment

Septic Field Troubles

UPDATE - See NEWS for information on the SCRD hosting an information session on Thursday September 10th, 2020 at 7pm regarding the status of the Capital Planning process for the Woodcreek Wastewater Service Area.

The report has been received and emailed to members. If you are not yet a member and want a copy please email woodcreekpark@gmail.com and request one sent to you.

On Friday Nov 16, 2018, Helen Macham attended a tour of our community septic field with our newly elected directors and officials from the SCRD, along with a few other concerned neighbours.

The Woodcreek Park Sewage Treatment Facility is failing. The SCRD has had numerous warning letters from the Ministry of Environment for exceeding the established limits of 45mg/100l of B.O.D. (Biochemical Oxygen Demand). Readings as high as 133mg/100l have been reported.

In the next few months the SCRD will begin investigations to determine the magnitude of the problem and the associated financial implications for the 72 homes on the system - each of which presently pays $500.00/year in maintenance costs. Apparently the total amount does not adequately cover the operational or capital needs of the service. Costs to upgrade our recirculating gravel-filtered system are yet to be determined, but our new Area E director, Donna McMahon, has been given notice that rates might increase by more than 100%.

As we are going into the rainy season with its consequent high water table, I wanted to remind everyone of the importance of not burdening the system unnecessarily. Kitchen grease, cleaning solvents and disposable wipes spell big trouble. Also, please limit the amount of water you use on a daily basis—yes, even in the rainy season. 

I will update everyone on the WPNA e-mail list as more information becomes available. In the interim, if we all remain diligent perhaps we can lessen the future impact to our wastewater treatment plant.

Helen Macham, for WPNA