Whycocomagh Wastewater Treatment Plant & Outfall Replacement
Whycocomagh Wastewater Treatment Plant Project Overview
The Whycocomagh Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) was constructed in 1971 and upgraded in 1993. The facility provides wastewater treatment services for the communities of Whycocomagh and We’koqma’q First Nation.
The existing WWTP has reached the end of its service life and no longer has the capacity to meet the community's long-term needs. Replacing the facility is a priority to ensure reliable wastewater treatment for current and future residents while continuing to meet environmental and regulatory requirements.
Quicklinks
- Whycocomagh Wastewater Treatment Plant & Outfall Replacement
- Central Avenue Rebuild
- Port Hood Wastewater Lift Station Replacement
- Le Foyer Père Fiset
- Le Foyer Père Fiset
- Inverness Multicourt Facility
- Jajiktek Seawall Trail
- Inverness Wastewater Treatment Plant Replacement
- Port Hood Community
Park Project - Whycocomagh Active Transportation and Detailed Design Plan
Project Timeline
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2017–2020 | Initial planning for the replacement of the WWTP. |
| 2019 | The project was identified as a priority in the Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Assessment completed by Dillon Consulting. Approximately $5.8 million was secured through the Investing in Canada’s Infrastructure Program (ICIP), with funding shared by the federal, provincial, and municipal governments. |
| 2022 | The project design was updated to reflect future growth in Whycocomagh and We’koqma’q First Nation and to include the replacement of infrastructure that had originally been planned for reuse. |
| 2022–2025 | Detailed design of the replacement facility was completed. |
| February to April 2025 | The project was issued for competitive construction bids (tendered). No construction contract was awarded because the submitted bids exceeded the available project budget. |
Project Funding and Cost Update
The Municipality secured approximately $5.8 million through the Investing in Canada’s Infrastructure Program (ICIP) in 2019. The funding application was based on construction cost estimates available at that time.
Since then, construction costs have increased significantly across the industry. For example, the 2019 Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Assessment estimated the replacement cost of the Whycocomagh WWTP at approximately $4.9 million. A comparable wastewater treatment plant project was estimated in the 2019 report to have a replacement value of $4.7 million and was awarded in 2024 with a contract value of approximately $15.6 million, representing an increase of approximately 332%.
As the project progressed, the Municipality also updated the design to ensure the new WWTP will meet the community’s needs for decades to come. The revised design accounts for future growth in Whycocomagh and We’koqma’q First Nation and includes the replacement of infrastructure that had originally been planned for reuse.
The replacement project was issued for competitive construction bids between February and April 2025. The bids received exceeded both the available project budget and the funding secured through the 2019 ICIP program. As a result, the Municipality did not award a construction contract.
Current Status
The Municipality remains committed to replacing the WWTP and continues to pursue additional funding opportunities to support the project.
At the same time, the Municipality is working with its engineering consultant to evaluate a phased scope of work that can be completed within the original $5.8 million ICIP funding allocation. This work would improve the operation and reliability of the existing wastewater treatment plant while also supporting the future construction of the replacement facility.
What’s Next?
The Municipality will continue to:
- Pursue additional funding opportunities to support the full replacement of the WWTP.
- Complete the evaluation and eventual implementation of the phased improvements that can be delivered within the existing funding allocation, pending funding amendment approval from federal and provincial governments.
- Continue planning and preparing to secure remaining necessary investment for the long-term replacement of the wastewater treatment plant.
Project updates will be posted to this page as additional information becomes available.
Whycocomagh Outfall Replacement – Project Overview
The Municipality is also advancing the replacement of the Whycocomagh outfall pipe.
Installed in the 1970s, the existing outfall is an approximately 160-metre-long buried pipeline that carries treated effluent from the wastewater treatment plant to its discharge point in the Skye River.
Replacing the outfall is an important investment in the Municipality’s wastewater infrastructure and will help ensure the continued safe and reliable operation of the treatment system.
Current Status
Design work is underway, with the current focus on completing the environmental studies and regulatory approvals required before construction can begin.
This work includes coordination with:
- Indigenous Services Canada
- Department of Fisheries & Oceans
- Department of Natural Resources & Renewables
- Nova Scotia Environment & Climate Change
The timing of construction will depend on:
- Completion of the detailed design;
- Receipt of all required environmental and regulatory approvals; and
- Availability of project funding.
What’s Next?
The Municipality will continue to advance the design and permitting process while pursuing funding opportunities to support construction.
Updates will be shared on this page as the project progresses.
Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out:
- Email construction@invernesscounty.ca
- Call toll-free 1-866-258-0223, select option #8.