Municipal authority Metro Vancouver has picked a joint venture of Aecom and Jacobs to provide preliminary engineering services for the $7.05bn (C$9.9bn) upgrade of Vancouver’s Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Built in 1963, it treats 200 billion litres of wastewater a year for around 750,000 people in the Canadian city.

That accounts for some 40% of wastewater treated in the Vancouver Sewerage Area.

Owing to population growth, Metro Vancouver expects the number of people served to grow to 950,000 by 2051.

Set to last until 2035, the upgrade is intended to improve the plant’s capacity and resilience in line with public health statutory requirements.

It will boost tertiary treatment to detoxify discharges into the Salish Sea.

Extensive ground improvements will protect the plant from earthquakes and rising sea levels.

Iona Beach Regional Park’s sensitive ecosystems will be restored to enhance visitors’ connection to nature.

The project will also improve the plant’s ability to recover water for non-potable uses and biogas.

Aecom and Jacobs will provide design and project planning oversight.