The terms "wastewater" and "scenic tour" don't usually go hand in hand but there will be an exception later this week when the city offers free tours of a unique system for dealing with a portion of what goes down the city's sinks and toilets.
Nestled off the 8000 block of Muralt Road, southwest of the city, the Western Acres Wetlands is home to an abundance of bullrushes, plants, birds, geese, ducks, frogs, muskrats and beavers. Called an "engineered wetland" it's the final stage of a system that services Western Acres, a subdivision of about 50 homes.
So-called "blackwater" initially goes through a three-celled lagoon where it is broken down by the sun, wind, algae, and bacteria and is turned into cleaner greywater, as organic materials break down and sink to the base of the lagoon to decompose.
Once it meets proper conditions for bacteria, suspended solids, and various nutrients and has enough oxygen content to support aquatic life, it's discharged into Hiller Creek which flows into the wetlands for secondary treatment - or further "polishing" before flowing through a weir and back into Hiller Creek.
You still wouldn't want to drink it, but only because of what the animals who occupy the wetlands leave behind.
"It's actually more of a natural treatment than we would have at our modern wastewater treatment facilities," city environmental assistant Andrea Bryne said Tuesday during a media event to promote the tour.
The process requires much less maintenance and cost much less to operate than a traditional wastewater treatment facility, according to Bryne. But there is a drawback - they also require much more space "which isn't always available in an urban environment given the significant volumes of wastewater created by a city."
About 96 per cent of the city's wastewater is treated at the Lansdowne Road treatment centre. Along with Western Acres, lagoons at the Danson industrial park, BCR industrial park and on Shelley and Foreman roads treat the remainder.
Other than for tours by appointment, the wetlands are usually closed to the public due to concerns about liability as well as dogs. But as part of the B.C. Water and Waste Association's "water week" the city is offering tours on Thursday, 1-3 p.m.
Following on last year's theme - how water gets to your tap - this year's focuses on what happens once it goes down the drain.
"We encourage everyone to come so that they can learn what happens when their water goes down the drain," Byrne said.
To get to the site, turn onto Blackwater Road from Highway 16 West and drive 3.6 kilometres then turn left of Muralt and continue for another 1.4 kilometres.
