Application for a Permit Amendment Under the Provisions of the Environmental Management Act
We, the Owners of Sandher Fruit Packers Ltd., 3231 Old Vernon Road, Kelowna BC, V1X 6P1 intend to submit this application to the Director to amend Permit 111625, issued December 12, 2024, which authorizes the discharge of effluent from a fruit processing and packing facility for apple processing. The amendment is adding a source of discharge for water that is used to cool, wash and process cherries, beginning in the 2026 season. The land upon which the facility is situated, and the discharge will occur is Lot 1, PLAN KAP2963, Section 1, Township 23, Osoyoos Division Yale District Portion W 933 FT, at Sandher Fruit Packers Ltd., within the Regional District of Central Okanagan.
The maximum rate of effluent discharged from this facility will be 40 cubic meters per day. The maximum operating period for this facility will be during the months of cherry harvest, usually July to mid September, from approximately 10am to 10 pm seven days a week. It is anticipated that with potential growth the maximum discharge rate in the future could be 69 cubic meters per day.
The characteristics of the effluent discharged are as follows:
- Drinking water sourced from Black Mountain Irrigation District, used to wash cherries from Okanagan orchards
The types of treatment to be applied to the discharge are: The cherry packing line removes small cherries, stems, leaves and other bits of debris through the packing process before water is discharged. Process settling tanks filter total suspended solids prior to discharge into effluent field. The discharge will be to the ground via trench infiltration field.
Any person who may be adversely affected by the proposed amendment and wishes to provide relevant information may, within 30 days after the last date of posting, publishing, service or display, send written comments to the applicant, with a copy to the Regional Director, Environmental Protection at envCIA@gov.bc.ca. The identity of any respondents and the contents of anything submitted in relation to this application will become part of the public record.
Dated this 1st day of April, 2025.
Contact person: Prab Sandhers
Email address: HR@sandherfruit.com
Phone: 250-491-9176
