Fish Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades
Calgary is a big city on a small river, and we continue to grow. This has meant increased amounts of wastewater created and a larger demand on our current wastewater treatment plants.
The Fish Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant is one of three wastewater treatment plants owned and operated by The City of Calgary. It was constructed in the 1960s on the west bank of the Bow River to serve the south catchment of the city and has been upgraded incrementally through the years.
Now, the plant requires critical upgrades to enhance the treatment processes for regulatory compliance, improve operational capacity and support a growing population in southern Calgary. In order to ensure the plant meets the current standards for treating wastewater, the plant can only operate at 30 per cent of its full capacity until we make these important upgrades.
Upgrading the plant will improve its efficiency while allowing it to continue to provide a vital service to approximately 280,000 Calgarians.
Project benefits
- These upgrades and enhancements will ensure that the facility continues to provide reliable wastewater treatment for Calgarians with a focus on protecting the environment.
- Odour control will be enhanced through upgrades to the existing infrastructure and incorporated into the design of the new infrastructure.
- Savings of $120- $200M to upgrade rather than decommission the plant and build new infrastructure elsewhere. This work will allow The City to maintain rather than increase taxpayers water rates.
- The upgrades will ensure the protection of freshwater life by reducing the amount of ammonia discharged to the river, which can be toxic to fish and invertebrate populations.
- Visual berming, landscaping and improved lighting will be incorporated into the design to improve the visual aesthetic of the plant.
Project timeline
- Project design: 2023 - 2025
- Construction: Spring/Summer 2025 until 2031
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Connect with the project team
For more information, please contact the project team at:
FishCreekWasteWaterTreatmentPlantUpgrades@calgary.ca
New infrastructure
The project includes construction of new infrastructure and retrofit of existing infrastructure.
New infrastructure:
- Odour control systems
- Secondary treatment: biological nutrient removal bioreactors
- Primary Sludge Fermentation Facility
- Effluent Filtration Facility
- Secondary Sludge Thickening Facility
- Sludge Blending Tank
- Digested Sludge Storage Tank
- Headworks Facility
- Operations, Maintenance and Administration Facility
- Electrical Switchgear Building
*Please note, informational flyers were sent out to area residents detailing the construction of two new diesel standby generators and an accompanying electrical building, which is part of the Alberta Utilities Commission application requirement. This infrastructure is all within the current fenceline. To view the flyer, click here.
Upgrades to existing infrastructure:
- Ultraviolet (UV) Light Disinfection Facility
- Digestion
- Primary and Secondary Clarification
- Liquid stream flow distribution and conveyance
- Electrical distribution, switchgear, transformers and generators
Project resources
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State-of-the-art technology will greatly improve the plant's odour control through the use of biofilters.
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Learn about how the City of Calgary is protecting the Bow River.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why isn't the plant being decommissioned?
The decision not to decommission the plant is based on cost-effectiveness. It is more financially viable to upgrade the existing infrastructure at the Fish Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant rather than build new facilities elsewhere, such as at the Pine Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. This planned upgrade is estimated to save between $120 million and $200 million.
Will the plant ever be expanded?
Based on current population growth projections, expansion of The City’s wastewater treatment plants will be required in the near future and will be based upon careful and strategic evaluation of how to best use our current and future infrastructure. The City currently has a study underway to quantify the recent population growth, evaluate where the growth is occurring and determine where the wastewater treatment capacity expansion needs to be to best service the City.
How will this upgrade benefit the community?
The upgrade will bring several benefits to the community. Firstly, it will address lingering odour issues and minimize noise from the plant. Additionally, the modernized equipment and infrastructure will increase the plant’s capacity and efficiency, leading to cleaner river water and reduced environmental impact.
What ways other than collecting and cleaning our wastewater does the plant benefit our city?
The plant offers various benefits beyond its core function of wastewater treatment. It produces nutrient-rich organic matter for use on local agricultural lands through the City’s Calgro program. The plant also captures biogas from the solids treatment process and uses it to generate heat for the buildings and processes onsite.
When are you planning to start construction?
Construction is scheduled to begin in 2025 and will continue until 2031. The plant will need to remain operational throughout the duration of the construction. The construction schedule has been developed to allow strategic staging and sequencing of construction activities to facilitate the continuous operation of the plant.