Overview
City of Williams Lake wastewater treatment plant serves approximately 5,500 residents in British Columbia, Canada. It operates under provincial regulations for inland communities in the Cariboo Regional District.
The City of Williams Lake wastewater treatment plant is located in Williams Lake, British Columbia, along the Williams Lake River Valley Trail. It serves a population of roughly 5,500 people, classifying it as a small municipal facility in the Cariboo Regional District. As a Canadian plant in British Columbia, it operates under provincial environmental regulations administered by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. Facilities of this scale typically employ secondary treatment or equivalent processes to meet effluent quality standards for inland discharge. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Fraser River system via the Williams Lake River. The Fraser River is a major salmon-bearing river that flows to the Pacific Ocean, making proper treatment essential for protecting aquatic ecosystems and downstream communities.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Williams Lake River, a tributary of the Fraser River system. The Fraser River is one of Canada's most important salmon rivers, supporting diverse fish species including Pacific salmon and steelhead. The watershed provides critical habitat for aquatic life and migratory birds. Proper wastewater treatment helps maintain water quality in this ecologically sensitive river system that flows to the Strait of Georgia.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in Williams Lake, British Columbia, Canada, along the Williams Lake River Valley Trail in the Cariboo Regional District.
The plant serves approximately 5,458 residents, making it a small municipal wastewater facility.
The treated effluent is discharged into the Williams Lake River, which flows into the Fraser River system and eventually reaches the Pacific Ocean.
The plant operates under British Columbia's Environmental Management Act and the Municipal Wastewater Regulation, which set effluent quality standards for inland facilities.
For small communities in Canada, secondary treatment or equivalent is typically required to reduce organic matter and suspended solids before discharge into sensitive watersheds.
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