Sanitary Sewers and Wastewater

Did you know?

West Kelowna's sanitary sewer system consists of 236 km of mains and 25 lift stations.

The network directs wastewater to the Regional District of Central Okanagan's (RDCO) trunk and then to the Westside Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The RDCO owns and operates the plant on behalf of the City of West Kelowna, District of Peachland and Westbank First Nation.

Visit the Treatment Plant webpage for more information on its operations and annual operating reports.

Emergencies

If you are experiencing a backup, smelling sewer gas, or encountering another kind of sewer emergency, please contact the Utilities Department:

778-797-2246. 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, excluding holidays
778-797-1000 extension 1, after hours

New Connections

If you are on a septic system and would like to connect to city sewers, please contact the Building Department, or have your contractor reach the city, to obtain the necessary permits. Call 778-797-8820.

Odour Problems

In the Home:

If you smell sewer gas in your home, call our Utilities Department at 778-797-2246, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, excluding holidays, or 778-797-1000, extension 1 after hours.

Around the Treatment Plant:

Crews take many steps to reduce odours, but smells do occur occasionally. If odours become a problem, please email the Regional District of Central Okanagan at engineering@cord.bc.ca or call 250-469-6241.

Prevent Clog and Messy Backups

Clogged pipes, odours or backed up sewers are problems you may face around your home or business if you put the wrong liquids or solids down the sink or toilet. Keep the following items out of sinks, drains and toilets:

Food waste
Fats, grease and deep fryer, vegetable and cooking oils
Lard, butter, salad dressing, marinade for meats
Vegetables, meat, pasta, bread, and other food waste items

Garbage disposal units and Garburators

Garburators or garbage disposal units are not permissible within the City of West Kelowna.

The City's municipal sanitary sewer system directs wastewater to the Regional District of Central Okanagan's Westside Wastewater Treatment Plant and therefore the RDCO has jurisdiction.

The City of West Kelowna Sanitary Sewer BYLAW NO. 0072, Item 10.2, states:

No person shall directly or indirectly discharge into the municipal sanitary sewer system: (hh) any water or waste containing substances in concentrations that are not amenable to treatment or reduction by the sewage treatment process employed or are amenable to treatment only to such a degree that the sewage treatment plant effluent cannot, during normal operation, meet the requirement of any other agency having jurisdiction over discharges to the receiving waters.

The Regional District of Central Okanagan Sewer Systems Bylaw No. 1315 states that it does not permit garburators, and they are banned from use in homes in order to better protect the system.

Item 5 states:

(n) Any garbage that has been ground, comminuted or shredded by a garbage disposal unit.

Rates and Utility Bills

Please visit our Utility Billing webpage for more information.

Westside Wastewater Treatment Plant

If you have questions, concerns or would like more information regarding the treatment plant, its processes and annual reports, please visit the RDCO website or call 250-763-4918.