Annacis treatment plant upgrade on time, under budget

[CAWED]

_ANNACIS TREATMENT PLANT UPGRADE ON TIME, UNDER BUDGET_

_DELTA, B.C. --The Greater Vancouver Regional District and its federal
and provincial partners today celebrated completion of the Annacis
Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade to secondary treatment. On time and
some $90 million below its initial budget of $526 million, the upgrade
to secondary treatment significantly improves the quality of treated
wastewater reaching the Fraser River._

Phase I of the upgrade, a $206 million _Canada/British Columbia
Infrastructure Works_ project funded equally by federal, provincial
and regional authorities, has provided secondary treatment to about
one-third of the plant’s flow since last March.

"Upgrading of the Annacis plant, while a significant investment, is a
clear reflection of the GVRD’s commitment to proper environmental
stewardship. Better treatment of our waste means less impact on
receiving waters, such as the Fraser River, and added protection for
the environment as the region grows," said _GVRD Chair George Puil_.

Established in 1975, the _Annacis Plant_ treats wastewater from 14
GVRD municipalities and currently serves some 900,000 residents.
Before the upgrade, the plant provided only primary treatment. Primary
treatment removes approximately 60 per cent of suspended solids in the
wastewater stream, and reduces Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) by 35
per cent. Secondary treatment removes more than 90 per cent of
suspended solids and BOD, resulting in improved effluent quality and a
subsequent decrease in impacts on receiving waters.

"The upgrade of the Annacis Island Wastewater Treatment Plant is, to
this day, the largest single Infrastructure Works project in British
Columbia, and Canada," said _Secretary of State Raymond Chan _on
behalf of_ Ron J. Duhamel, Secretary of State for Western Economic
Diversification_ and minister responsible for implementation of the
infrastructure program in Western Canada. "Through our $150 million
investment in the upgrade of the Annacis Island Wastewater Treatment
Plant and programs like the Fraser River Action Plan, the Government
of Canada demonstrates its commitment to a clean environment and
bettering the lives of British Columbians."

"We invested over $36 million in 11 other communities to improve the
quality of treated sewage reaching the Fraser River," said _Mike
Farnworth_, Minister responsible for the Infrastructure Works Program
in B.C. "Annacis was clearly our number one infrastructure priority
with almost a third of the initial program funding earmarked for this
one wastewater treatment project."

_Environment Minister Cathy McGregor_ said, "The GVRD has taken a
giant step towards bringing the quality of treated wastewater into
compliance with provincial requirements for secondary treatment."

Construction began in 1991, and includes an upgrade to secondary
treatment of the _Lulu Island Wastewater Treatment Plant_. Funding for
the project has been shared with the _GVRD_ contributing 52 per cent,
the _Province of B.C._ 35 per cent and the _Government of Canada_ 13
per cent.

Phase 1 of the _Canada/British Columbia Infrastructure Works Program_
funded more than 400 projects valued at $675 million and created more
than 9,000 jobs. A top-up to the program was announced in April 1997
and combines contributions from the federal and provincial governments
and local partners for a total of more than $150 million.

_Secretary of State Chan, Employment and Investment Minister Farnworth
_and_ GVRD Chair Puil_ were on hand to mark completion of the
secondary treatment upgrade.