On December 4th, 2023, it was announced that the City of Kimberley would build a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) after confirmation of combined investment commitments of more than $90.6 million from federal, provincial, and municipal governments.

This transformative infrastructure project will build a modern, resilient, and environmentally responsible WWTP. This initiative ensures compliance with BC’s Municipal Wastewater Regulation (MWR), improves effluent quality, and supports the city’s growing population and long-term sustainability goals.

Check out project details below or visit our Kimberley Wastewater Treatment Plant page for complete project information.

Project Update - February 19, 2026

The City of Kimberley is pleased to share that two major milestones have been reached, ensuring the community can move forward with the construction of the Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The City has now received registration under British Columbia’s Municipal Wastewater Regulation (MWR), a significant regulatory milestone that formally authorizes the City’s wastewater treatment facility under provincial standards. MWR registration confirms that the Province has reviewed and accepted the City’s wastewater system design, environmental protections, and operational plans. This registration will replace the City’s legacy operating permit and allows the facility to be constructed and operated, provided it continues to comply with the MWR’s performance standards, monitoring requirements, and environmental safeguards to protect public health and the receiving environment.

With this milestone, the City has secured final funding approval for the project following the design and site plan updates. All major regulatory and financial prerequisites are now in place.

The building permit application has been submitted, with approval expected in late March. Construction remains on schedule to begin in April 2026, and the treatment plant is projected to be fully operational in 2028.

These milestones mark significant progress toward delivering a modern, reliable wastewater treatment system that will serve Kimberley for decades to come.

The project is jointly funded by the Government of Canada, the Province of British Columbia and the City of Kimberley.

Project Update - December 2025

At the December 8th, 2025, Regular Meeting of Council, Senior Manager of Operations, Nik Morissette, presented Council with an update on progress towards the construction of the WWTP. The presentation included updates on early on-site work conducted in the fall, progress towards detailed plant design, a permitting and scheduling update, and other important information. Head to the agenda link below to read the full report.

December 8 Council Meeting Agenda - WWTP Progress Report under New Business

Project Update - October 2025

On October 15th, 2025, City staff and the WWTP project team held a public open house. This was an opportunity for the public to review important project information and speak directly with our project team. Follow the link below to view engagement boards from the open house:

October 15th Public Engagement Boards

Project Update - August 2025

Since receiving grant funding approval, the City of Kimberley has been actively preparing to build the Wastewater Treatment Plant. During early planning, the project team revisited the original design to ensure it still met the needs of the community and aligned with current cost realities. That review revealed two major challenges: a projected $40 million budget overrun, primarily due to inflation, and limited space at the proposed site near Marysville Falls, which would restrict future expansion.

In response, the City undertook a comprehensive feasibility review and made significant changes to the project. The project team pivoted to a more scalable and cost-effective solution: upgrading the existing Pollution Control Centre with a new Aerobic Granular Sludge (AGS) facility.

This new approach leverages existing infrastructure, supports long-term population growth, and significantly improves environmental performance. It also brings the project back within the approved budget of $90.6 million, representing a major success in cost management and planning.

We invite the public to ask us questions about the project below. We look forward to hearing from you!

This project is funded in part by the Government of Canada.