The project’s recent cost calculation is based on the regional district’s newly adopted way of estimating costs at an early stage of planning, as well as identified challenges over the past year relating to the development site and schedule constraints. Significant challenges leading to the cost escalation include the four-year timeline to dewater the existing four sludge lagoons west of the current facility, the removal of biosolids stockpiles near the plant, and several years of ground improvements on the Fraser River delta. Aerial of the existing Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant, just northeast of Vancouver International Airport. (Metro Vancouver Regional District)