The Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) is updating its Liquid Waste Management Plan (LWMP) to include the cost and schedule for a planned tertiary filtration upgrade at the Whistler Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Originally identified as a future requirement in 2008, this upgrade was listed as a planned project in the 2018 Liquid Waste Management Plan and in previous financial planning documents.

On March 19, 2024, Council endorsed the approach and directed staff to proceed with the LWMP amendment and required public engagement.

The proposed update adds the estimated construction cost of $14.2 million and a 2027 to 2028 construction schedule to the LWMP.

If the project proceeds, the RMOW is projecting to increase sewer rates by an additional 1 per cent in 2027.

Why the upgrade is needed

• Meet water quality criteria: Tertiary filtration provides more reliable phosphorous removal to meet water quality standards.

• Plan for growth: As Whistler grows and standards tighten, filtration will help meet future community needs.

• Reduce chemical costs: The upgrade may reduce the use of costly acetic acid.

• Follow best practices: Many B.C. treatment plants use similar filtration systems

A virtual public meeting will be held on April 1, 2026, from 6 to 7 p.m. to present the project update and gather community feedback. Meeting details and the link to participate will be available on the RMOW website.

If you have questions in advance of the meeting, please email projects@whistler.ca.

Information collected in this form by the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) is authorized under section 26(e) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPPA) for the purpose of collecting feedback on the Liquid Waste Management Plan. By completing this form through Social PinPoint, you consent to your responses and IP addresses being collected by the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) on a Canadian-based server. To protect your privacy and the privacy of others, please do not include any information that could clearly identify you or another person. Any personal identifiable information that is inadvertently included in the open-text responses will be deleted by the RMOW once the results of the survey are compiled. If you have any questions regarding the collection and/or use of this information, please contact privacy@whistler.ca.