Overview
Westside Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant serves West Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. It treats wastewater from approximately 17,733 residents before discharging into the Okanagan Lake watershed.
The Westside Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant is a municipal facility located in West Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. It serves a population of about 17,733 people in the Westbank First Nation area and surrounding communities, operating as part of the regional wastewater infrastructure managed by the Regional District of Central Okanagan. As a Canadian wastewater treatment plant serving a medium-sized agglomeration, it operates under provincial and federal regulations, including the British Columbia Municipal Wastewater Regulation and the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. These frameworks require treatment standards appropriate for the receiving environment, with secondary treatment being typical for inland plants discharging to sensitive water bodies. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the Okanagan Lake basin, a major water body in the interior of British Columbia. Okanagan Lake drains northward via the Okanagan River into the Columbia River system, ultimately reaching the Pacific Ocean. The lake supports diverse aquatic life and is a key resource for recreation, irrigation, and drinking water in the region.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Okanagan Lake watershed, which flows into the Okanagan River and then the Columbia River, eventually reaching the Pacific Ocean. Okanagan Lake is a large, deep oligotrophic lake that supports fish species such as kokanee salmon and rainbow trout. The region's semi-arid climate makes water quality management critical for maintaining ecological health and human uses.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located on Gellatly Road South in West Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, within the Regional District of Central Okanagan.
The plant serves approximately 17,733 people in West Kelowna and the surrounding Westbank First Nation area.
The plant discharges treated effluent into the Okanagan Lake watershed, which flows into the Okanagan River and eventually the Columbia River.
The plant operates under British Columbia's Municipal Wastewater Regulation and the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, which set treatment standards to protect receiving waters like Okanagan Lake.
For inland plants of this scale in Canada, secondary treatment is standard to reduce organic matter and suspended solids, with additional nutrient removal if discharging to sensitive lakes.
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