This week’s intense rainfall and rapid snowmelt pushed Fernie’s wastewater treatment system beyond capacity, triggering an emergency response to prevent sewage backups into homes and businesses. Residents and businesses were asked to conserve water, and emergency discharges were carried out under provincial oversight to protect critical infrastructure.
According to City Councillor Ted Shoesmith, the event did not reflect a sudden system failure. Fernie’s lagoon-based wastewater system, built more than 60 years ago, is vulnerable to large volumes of stormwater and snowmelt entering the system. During extreme weather, inflows can exceed the system’s ability to move and treat wastewater, leaving limited options to prevent broader system failure.
Shoesmith said the City has spent several years working with multiple provincial ministries to align regulatory requirements before advancing planning for a new wastewater treatment system. He stated that council approved a preliminary concept earlier this year and that design and planning work is ongoing. Construction of a new mechanical system would take several years.
In the interim, Shoesmith said the City has completed maintenance and minor upgrades to the existing lagoons, including dredging and equipment improvements, to improve normal system performance. He noted these measures have helped day-to-day operation but do not resolve extreme inflow events driven by heavy rain and rapid snowmelt.
Shoesmith said he was referring to a Submerged Attached Growth Reactor (SAGR) system when discussing future upgrades, stating it would provide additional capacity and help keep the wastewater system operating into the future. He emphasized that emergency discharges are used only to prevent more severe outcomes, such as failure of major lift stations or lagoon infrastructure, which could result in prolonged loss of wastewater treatment capability.
This week’s emergency was avoided because City crews acted quickly, residents conserved water, and existing maintenance improvements helped stabilize the system under extreme conditions. The longer-term solution is now in planning, but wastewater infrastructure—especially in mountain communities—takes time to design, approve, and build.
