Waste Water Service

The Waste Water Treatment Plant treats about 3.4 billion litres of wastewater (sewage) every year.

Waste water is treated using either primary or secondary treatment processes.

  • Primary treatment – removes materials that float or readily settle out by gravity as well as dissolved organic materials.
  • Secondary treatment – uses biological processes to remove more material, including small suspended solids and soluble organic materials.

During treatment, wastewater is tested to ensure that treatment plant processes are working effectively and meeting regulations. Treated waste water (effluent) is then released into the Squamish River. 

Flush Facts

  • There are more than 142 kilometres of sewer pipe in Squamish. 
  • Wastewater can take up to 6 – 10 hours to flow through up to the nine kilometres of pipe from all neighbourhoods to the Wastewater Treatment Plant. 
  • There are 26 lift stations around Squamish that pump wastewater to a higher level so gravity can take it the rest of the way to the Wastewater Treatment Plant. 
  • Sewer flow peaks at around 7:30 a.m. and again between 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. 
  • 80% of the water consumed in the District eventually goes to the Wastewater Treatment Plant for treatment.

What NOT to Flush

Homeowners are responsible for blockages in the sanitary service from their house to the sewer main.

As the homeowner is in control of what goes into the sewer from the house, any obstruction is the homeowner's responsibility. If a blockage or break arises from structural issues, these will be repaired by Municipal works staff.

  1. Grease: This is the most damaging of all because it quickly builds up on the inside of the pipe reducing flow and binding with other products which then can cause major plugs.
  2. Diapers: Diapers are very heavy when wet and do not break down in the water. They contain plastic and woven material that gets caught on fittings and imperfections in the pipe causing blockages. Diapers have to be removed before they enter the waste water treatment plant which increases costs and reduces efficiency.
  3. Feminine Products: These products contain a lot of plastic and the fibres are slow to break down. Like diapers, feminine products have to be removed mechanically to prevent them from entering the waste water treatment plant.
  4. Garburator material: While these are convenient for homeowners, garburators are very bad for the wastewater system. Grinding up materials have to be removed from the treated water before it returns to the environment. Please compost instead via the District's organics curbside collection.
  5. Industrial waste: As per District of Squamish bylaw 401, no one is to introduce liquid waste from industrial manufacturing processes, including gasoline, benzene, naptha, fuel oil, or other flammable or explosive liquid;  waters or wastes that contain toxic or poisonous liquids, solids, or gases; or water or wastes with a pH lower than 5.5. If you are unsure, please call District Operations at 604-815-6868 to advise you.
  6. Wipes: Although many products such as baby/kid wipes, adult wipes or cleaning wipes are advertised as being “flushable”, in reality, wipes can cause severe problems to private wastewater drainpipes, municipal sewer systems and wastewater treatment plants. The products do not break down completely and have to be mechanically removed from the treated water before they can be returned to the environment.  Manufacturers of “flushable” wipes are currently facing litigation for misrepresenting their products in the United States.
  7. Pharmaceutical drugs: While they don't necessarily clog our system, expired, unwanted or unused pharmaceutical drugs are not fully removed by conventional waste water treatment systems and end up in the waterways and are harmful to the environment. Please return expired, unwanted or unused pharmaceutical drugs to the pharmacy for proper disposal. DO NOT flush these down the toilet or drain. 

Odour Controls

Odours can sometimes be an issue. We take all complaints of odour very seriously and action is taken immediately to resolve the problem. In most cases the odour is found to be caused by material standing in a lift station for long periods of time but it can also be an indication of much more severe problems.

If you think it smells, please report it. Call us at 604-815-6868.

Effluent Quality

The quality of the effluent discharged from the waste water treatment plant continuously exceeds the government regulated threshold. Staff ensures close review of daily lab samplings to keep the receiving environment safe.