French Creek Pollution Control Centre
Wastewater from approximately 27,000 people and businesses in Qualicum Beach, Parksville and the service areas of French Creek, Pacific Shores, Surfside and Barclay Crescent flows to FCPCC. FCPCC also has a septage receiving site that accepts septage from residential onsite (septic) systems and wastewater from pump-and-haul clients.
FCPCC currently provides secondary treatment with trickling filters to remove more than 90% of biological oxygen demand (BOD) and total suspended solids (TSS). The RDN is planning an expansion and odour control upgrade project to meet the needs of a growing population and address odours. To learn more about how treatment works and the different types of treatment, visit our How Treatment Works page.
Biosolids, a soil-like material produced during the wastewater treatment process, are used in the RDN's Forest Fertilization Project. To learn more about how biosolids are managed in the RDN, visit our Biosolids Management page.
FCPCC treated almost 4 billion litres of wastewater in 2018. Treated wastewater is discharged into the Strait of Georgia 2,440 m offshore at a depth of 61 m.
Major projects & Improvements:
| 2020-2022 | Expansion and Odour Control Upgrade Project |
| 2009-2011 | Upgrade and forcemain twinning at the Lee Road Pump Station |
| 2005 | Commissioned fourth digester, increasing plant capacity |
| 1999 | Odour control strategy implemented |
| 1994-1997 | Doubled FCPCC's capacity, and installed solids contact tank and trickling filter to improve the quality of effluent and biosolids |
| 1977 | Built using secondary treatment with activated sludge technology, ending the discharge of raw sewage to the Salish Sea |