Jacobs selected for $500 million Metro Vancouver wastewater treatment upgrade

Jacobs, in a joint venture with AECOM, has been chosen to design Metro Vancouver’s $500 million multi-year upgrade to the Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant. This transformative program is set to improve water quality and expand the plant’s capacity to serve nearly one million people by 2051.

The project will involve upgrading the 60-year-old facility from primary treatment to tertiary treatment, a shift that will bring significant environmental benefits, including enhanced protection of public health and improved water quality in the Salish Sea.

"In the midst of increased demand fueled by population growth, more stringent regulatory discharge requirements, and the need for operational efficiencies, new and innovative ways of expanding wastewater system capacity continue to emerge," said Katus Watson, Jacobs Senior Vice President. "All water has value and can be recovered and revitalized. This is critical to delivering this transformational upgrade to Metro Vancouver's wastewater treatment and keeping local communities and coastal waters healthy for years to come."

Upgrading to tertiary treatment will significantly improve the quality of water flowing into the Fraser River, which supports British Columbia's largest salmon population. The program also includes community-driven initiatives like ecological restoration at Iona Beach Regional Park and infrastructure upgrades to protect against rising sea levels and extreme weather.

The Jacobs and AECOM team, who previously delivered the Project Definition Report, are leading Metro Vancouver’s pilot testing program for phase one of the upgrades, scheduled for completion by 2027. The full program will ultimately serve over 900,000 Vancouver residents.

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