Province orders repairs on Shuswap resort’s leaky sewage plant

A private Blind Bay sewage plant has been leaking for years, and the province is stepping up enforcement.

The environment ministry issued an order late last month for Blind Bay Resort’s sewage plant to stop polluting the area and be repaired.

It comes after the province levied nearly $60,000 in fines against Jaydan Ventures Inc., which owns the wastewater system, in November.

With sewage only partially treated, if at all, surfacing on a nearby property at the lakefront resort for years, Jaydan Ventures has previously told the province a strata formed in 2021 is responsible for managing the plant. The strata, however, told the province in May the system was too neglected and difficult to maintain, and operating over capacity.

The leaks far surpass provincial pollution limits and pools in a disposal field in puddles up to 10 metres wide along Balmoral Road, according to the ministry order.

At 450 metres from Shuswap Lake and around 150 metres from a domestic well, the ministry said the sewage leaks pose a threat to the environment and human health.

It’s not clear whether Jaydan Ventures appealed the fine, but the ministry’s order demands either the company or the strata fix the sewage plant.

The resort has dozens of RV sites, a motel and cabins, along with a pool and a restaurant.

The order calls for the resort to immediately install fencing and signage to prevent the public from accessing the area where sewage is surfacing, while it was given until mid-February to stop the wastewater plant from surfacing anymore sewage.

By the end of March, either the strata or Jaydan Ventures are required to give the province a plan to repair the wastewater plant, followed by monthly updates.