Long-awaited sewer and water reclamation system will protect Swan Lake and give local farmers a reliable source of irrigation water during drought.
SPALLUMCHEEN, B.C. – The Township of Spallumcheen and the Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) are excited to announce that the North Okanagan Water Recovery Project (NOWRP), a sewer and water reclamation system is now under construction within the Township of Spallumcheen.
The NOWRP is a partnership between the RDNO, the Township of Spallumcheen, and the Okanagan Indian Band (OKIB) that was launched in 2015 to bring community sewer service to the Swan Lake area and reduce the impact of aging septic systems on the lake.
Construction was able to start in July after the project received its Municipal Wastewater Regulation permit from the Province of British Columbia, confirming the treatment process meets provincial environmental standards for reclaimed water use under the Environmental Management Act.
Centerfire Contracting Ltd. has been awarded the contract for the Township of Spallumcheen’s portion of the work, which includes wastewater collection lines, lift stations, and the treatment and storage ponds on L&A Cross Road. Site clearing, dust control and silt fencing are already in place to limit impacts on surrounding farmland, and environmental and archaeological monitoring staff will be on site throughout construction. The RDNO’s portion of the project will be tendered separately later this year.
Site grading and pipework will continue through 2026, with construction of the reclaimed water storage ponds planned for 2027. Commissioning is expected in fall 2027, and the system is anticipated to be fully operating by early 2028.
Full Press Release available here