Managing liquid waste
Every day here in the Greater Vancouver area, we produce approximately one billion litres of wastewater - or liquid waste - simply by carrying out our daily activities. How we manage these liquid wastes has an effect on our environment and the livability of our region. If we don't take care to handle and treat the many pollutants generated by human activities, the quality of our surrounding water bodies will suffer.

The GVRD's role
The GVRD manages liquid waste by operating and maintaining the network of trunk sewers, pumping stations and wastewater treatment plants.

Sources of wastewater
Wastewater is used water. In some cases this water is drained from the showers, toilets, tubs, dishwashers and other appliances in our homes. Other sources of wastewater are businesses or industry operations. Commercial or industrial operations are another large source of wastewater. The GVRD regulates the wastewater of most of the organizations, either through legal regulations, such as permits, or through voluntary guidelines.

Rainfall and urban runoff are called stormwater and are usually managed separately.

Wastewater collection
Thousands of kilometres of pipes and dozens of pumping stations are needed to transport the wastewater from its source to a treatment plant or, in the case of stormwater, to the nearest body of water.

Wastewater treatment
To protect the quality of the region's water bodies, most wastewater is treated before it is released into the environment. This treatment occurs at one of the GVRD's five wastewater treatment plants.

Long-range plans
The GVRD has also developed the region's first-ever Liquid Waste Management Plan. The plan lays out the steps needed to enhance the current system to meet our water quality goals as we prepare for future population increases.