Following a decision from the Ministry of Environment to discontinue authorization for septic disposal at the Revelstoke Landfill, the Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) will no longer be offering the service effective January 1, 2025.
The Ministry of Environment conducted a routine review of the CSRD’s operational certificate in 2021, which sets out the rules for running the Revelstoke Landfill. Following that review, the Ministry informed the CSRD that it will no longer allow septic waste to be accepted into the landfill’s septage infiltration ponds after December 31, 2024.
“We recognize the residents of Revelstoke and Electoral Area B have relied on this disposal site at the Revelstoke Landfill,” says Ben Van Nostrand, Team Leader of Environmental Services at the CSRD. “We are willing to assist the City of Revelstoke in working with the Ministry on new options for managing septic waste as part of their Liquid Waste Management Plan.”
The disposal of septic waste at the Revelstoke Landfill is contributing to elevated levels of fecal coliforms being reported from monitoring groundwater wells in the area. As a result, the CSRD has been found out of compliance with their authorization to manage the landfill. The CSRD understands and respects the critical importance of maintaining the health of groundwater in the region.
“We understand that closing the Septage Infiltration Ponds will result in challenges for both industry providing the service and homeowners who depend on the service. However, the Ministry has made the decision to discontinue the operation of the septage infiltration ponds and we understand and respect that decision,” adds Van Nostrand.
The CSRD has no plans, in either the short or long-term, to develop another site for septic waste disposal in the area. The Ministry notes that other septic disposal options may be available through private operators, the CSRD or the City of Revelstoke, if a proposal meets the obligations set out in the Environmental Management Act.
Short-term closures of septic waste disposal may also affect residents of the City of Revelstoke and Electoral Area B prior to 2025, as the CSRD is only authorized to accept 1,000 tonnes of septic waste per year for 2023 and 2024. To date, the CSRD has already taken in approximately 300 tonnes.
The CSRD will work to inform residents of any potential closures of the septic waste disposal service at the Revelstoke Landfill as the year progresses.
Members of the public with questions or concerns regarding the discontinuation of septic disposal services at the Revelstoke Landfill can contact the Ministry of Environment by email at [email protected]
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