Friday, March 27, 2026
The Village of Cumberland in British Columbia has completed a critical upgrade to their wastewater system.
Upgrades include improvements to the current lagoon system including the addition of UV disinfection, improvements to wastewater screening, changes to flow paths at the lagoons and installation of extra aeration, a Village of Cumberland release said.
The upgrades also include an operator’s building, improved instrumentation and site security.
“The importance of this work for the long-term health of our communities and the environment we all depend on cannot be overstated,” Village of Cumberland mayor Vickey Brown said. “We are so glad to see this unique-to-Cumberland solution in operation and working well after years of hard work by many people and guidance from the K’ómoks First Nation, who patiently travelled on this journey with us.”
“These upgrades mean the people of Cumberland will benefit from cleaner environments and more reliable wastewater system. The province is happy to support projects like this that strengthen community well-being and long-term sustainability. This is an important milestone for a village that continues to plan thoughtfully for its future,” provincial minister of housing and municipal affairs Christine Boyle added.
Construction began in 2023. Phase 2 of the project will include wetland enhancements, seismic upgrades and Maple Creek improvements and is currently going through the environmental assessment and permitting processes.
The project was funded through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program – Environmental Quality, with more than $3.8 million from the federal government and more than $3.2 million from B.C. and additional funding from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Green Municipal Fund. An additional $2.5 million was awarded from the Canada Community Building Fund to support Phase 2 of the wastewater system upgrades.
Project progress updates are available at cumberland.ca/wastewaterupgrades.
