Ahousaht Pump Station - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in Area C (Long Beach), British Columbia

Ahousaht Pump Station is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Area C (Long Beach) within the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District of British Columbia, Canada. The plant serves a small community of approximately 630 residents and operates under secondary treatment, a standard level for Canadian coastal communities to reduce organic pollutants and suspended solids before discharge. The plant discharges 283 cubic meters of treated wastewater per day. As a coastal facility within 10 km of the Pacific Ocean, it operates under British Columbia's Municipal Wastewater Regulation, which aligns with federal Canadian Environmental Protection Act standards. Secondary treatment is typical for small communities in this region, ensuring adequate protection of marine ecosystems. The treated effluent enters the coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean near Clayoquot Sound, an ecologically rich area known for its diverse marine life, including salmon, herring, and migratory seabirds. The plant plays a key role in maintaining water quality in this sensitive coastal environment, supporting both local fisheries and tourism.

The plant discharges into the Pacific Ocean near Clayoquot Sound, a coastal inlet on Vancouver Island's west coast. This area supports critical habitats for Pacific salmon, herring, and marine mammals such as gray whales and sea otters. The secondary treatment process reduces biological oxygen demand and suspended solids, helping to protect the sound's water quality and its role as a nursery for juvenile fish and shellfish.