North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant

March Update

On March 5, 2026, City of North Vancouver Mayor Linda Buchanan and District of North Vancouver, Mayor Mike Little met with Premier David Eby to demand a public inquiry into the extraordinary cost overruns of Metro Vancouver’s North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant project (NSWWTP).

The Mayors delivered the following requests to the Premier in the absence of action and information from Metro Vancouver:

A public inquiry into the NSWWTP cost overruns under the Local Government Act;
An arm's-length governance review of Metro Vancouver; and
A fairness mechanism so that no municipality can ever again be held to a cost-sharing formula applied to costs that were never contemplated when the agreement was made.

Read the letter and statements in the News Release.

First announced by Metro Vancouver in 2011, the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant (NSWWTP) was slated to replace the outdated Lions Gate Wastewater Treatment Plant by 2020. The current plant is at the end of its operational life and must be replaced to meet federal regulations.

In 2013, Metro Vancouver stated an initial project estimate of $700 million. Following project delays and legal issues with the contractor, the estimated cost was updated to $1.058 billion in 2021. In 2024, Metro Vancouver announced $3.86 billion as the estimate for completion in 2030. This latest estimate does not include such additional costs as the decommissioning and remediating the existing facility, or for eventually operating and maintaining the new wastewater treatment plant.

Taxpayers are understandably concerned about the project’s impact on their utility bills and/ or property taxes now and in future. North Shore municipalities and representatives have raised concerns through every available channel. The response has been inadequate and not constructive.

This page outlines the background and actions of the City of North Vancouver in response to cost overruns and delays.

Frequently Asked Questions

Timeline of Actions to Date

March 5, 2026: Joint statement released by District of North Vancouver Mayor Mike Little and City of North Vancouver Mayor Linda Buchanan: Mayors call for BC to act on wastewater plant.
June 17, 2024: City of North Vancouver Council votes to file a formal complaint to Metro Vancouver regarding the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant process and costs and calls for an independent public review of the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant process and costs.
March 22, 2024: Metro Vancouver announces a project estimate increase to $3.86 billion and a completion date of 2030.
February 26, 2021: Metro Vancouver releases a revised cost estimate of $1.058 billion with a completion date of 2024.
November 15, 2013: Metro Vancouver provides a cost estimate of $700 million, with construction beginning 2014 and completing by 2020.
Early 2012, Design process starts: Metro Vancouver begins engagement process with the community, First Nations, and other interested parties to start the design process and to establish the Lions Gate Public Advisory Committee, which will represent the interests of local residents, North Shore businesses and environmental groups.

What Is Known About The Project Costs Today?

This summary outlines what is currently known about the costs, funding, and regional impacts of the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant project.

Key facts (as of end of 2025)	Amount
Original budget in 2014	$700 million
Senior government funding secured in 2017	$405 million
Initial costs to the region	$295 million
Revised budget in 2021	$1.06 billion
Additional cost to region, added in 2021	$358 million
Reset budget in 2024	$3.86 billion
Additional cost to region, added in 2025	$2.8 billion
Total costs to the region based on reset budget (total budget minus senior government contribution)	$3.45 billion
2026 CURRENT TOTAL PROJECT BUDGET	$3.86 billion

The total project budget includes senior government funding; the “cost to the region” reflects the portion paid by Metro Vancouver ratepayers.

What Information is Missing Today?

The following list outlines the missing information that prevents North Shore municipalities from understanding the full scope of the financial impacts of the project.

Key facts (as of end of 2025)	Amount
Detailed cost breakdown	?
Amount spent to end of 2025	?
Forecast to complete	?
Funding shares by sewerage area	?
Additional costs and impacts (1)	?
Household impacts at completion (1)	?

Note 1: Metro Vancouver provided preliminary household impact estimates for the North Shore at the time of the 2024 reset ($997 per year for 30 years, or $1,182 for 15 years); however, final household costs at completion remain unknown.

North Shore municipalities have repeatedly requested additional information on the impacts from the NSWWTP project, including the 10-year outlook by sewerage area, to understand what the North Shore’s total cost for liquid waste services will be once all wastewater treatment plants are upgraded.

There are many unknowns, including additional costs to remediate the old site, estimated debt levels and operating and maintenance costs at project completion, and when annual debt payments stop.

Financials: An incomplete picture

In the table below, staff from the City of North Vancouver and the District of North Vancouver have compiled financial information from Metro Vancouver related to the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant, based on what is currently available to us. This information comes from Metro Vancouver presentations, Board meeting minutes, and emails exchanged with Metro Vancouver finance staff. The figures may change as additional information is provided.

North Shore municipalities have repeatedly asked Metro Vancouver for more detailed information about the impacts of the project, including a 10 year financial outlook by sewerage area. This information is needed to understand the North Shore’s total future costs for liquid waste services once all wastewater treatment plants are upgraded. At the February 27, 2026 MVRD Board meeting, it was disclosed that the GVS&DD Board passed resolutions at its November 28, 2025 meeting calling for “a comprehensive long range financial plan of at least ten years, outlining projected capital requirements, operating impacts, financing strategies, and rate implications.” To date, a 10 year outlook for the North Shore Sewerage Area has not been provided. As a result, significant uncertainties remain, including the cost to remediate the old site, expected debt levels, future operating and maintenance costs once the project is complete, and when annual debt payments will end.

Green: Confirmed numbers received from Metro Vancouver
Grey: Numbers that we have not received

NSWWTP financials table

Notes:
(1) Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District (GVS&DD) declared value of construction at building permit issuance in February 2026. (DNV.org permit #BLD2025-0035)
(2) Land for the project was acquired in 2008. The acquisition cost has not been disclosed in Metro Vancouver public documents.
(3) In March of 2017, it was announced that Metro Vancouver received up to $212.3 million in federal government funding and $193 million in provincial government funding towards construction of the new plant. (New Lions Gate Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant to support cleaner waterways in Metro Vancouver - Canada.ca)
(4) Metro Vancouver's 2024 Financial Statements indicate "Construction in progress includes $711.0 million (2023-$609.1 million) related to the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Project". (Metro Vancouver Audited Financial Statements 2024 page 35)

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