Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant - Richmond, British Columbia

Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant is a major municipal facility located on Sea Island in Richmond, British Columbia, within the Metro Vancouver Regional District. It serves a population of approximately 1,259,061, making it one of the largest treatment plants in the province. The plant is situated near the mouth of the Fraser River, close to the Strait of Georgia. As a large agglomeration serving over 1.2 million people, the plant operates under Canada's Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations (WSER), which require secondary treatment or equivalent for facilities of this scale. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 million cubic meters per day, reflecting its role in managing the region's wastewater. The treatment process and specific effluent quality are regulated to protect the receiving environment. The plant discharges into the Fraser River estuary, which flows into the Strait of Georgia and ultimately the Pacific Ocean. This estuary is one of the most important ecological zones on Canada's west coast, supporting salmon runs, migratory birds, and diverse marine life. The plant's operations are critical to maintaining water quality in this sensitive ecosystem.

The plant discharges into the Fraser River estuary, a dynamic interface between freshwater and marine environments. The estuary supports critical habitats for Pacific salmon, sturgeon, and over a million migratory birds along the Pacific Flyway. Effluent from the plant enters the Strait of Georgia, a semi-enclosed sea that connects to the Pacific Ocean via the Juan de Fuca Strait. The region's high rainfall and tidal flushing influence dilution and dispersion of treated wastewater.