Greater Nanaimo Pollution Control Centre

Greater Nanaimo Pollution Control Centre

GNPCC

Wastewater from approximately 100,000 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 properties.

The GNPCC uses chemically-enhanced primary treatment to remove 30 to 40% of biological oxygen demand (BOD) and 50% of total suspended solids (TSS). GNPCC is one of two primary treatment plants remaining in the region. Upgrades are underway to provide secondary treatment to improve effluent quality. Secondary treatment is able to remove up to 90% of BOD and TSS.

Learn more about how treatment works and the different levels of wastewater treatment.

Biosolids, a soil-like material produced during the wastewater treatment process, are managed in a Forest Fertilization Program and Soil Fabrication Program. Learn more about Biosolids Management in the RDN.

GNPCC treated over 10 billion litres of wastewater in 2019. Treated wastewater is discharged into the Strait of Georgia 2,030 m offshore at a depth of 70 m.

Major Projects & Improvements

2017-2020 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