WHITEWATER REGION (Cobden) — The Environmental Services Committee received a brief summary of the Township of Whitewater Region’s implemented improvements and opportunities of sewer infrastructure within the Village of Cobden from 2012 to 2020.
According to Janet Collins, asset management coordinator, the Township has been working to improve sanitary sewer mains and flows through reduced storm water infiltration, providing reduced flows and treatment at the wastewater treatment plant. Mrs. Collins says the Township will “continue to evaluate and monitor both sanitary and storm flows [and] requirements while meeting legislative requirements.”
On January 28, the Township applied for Place to Grow: Agri-Food Innovation Initiative Funding, a partnership grant to assess stormwater, planning and implementation of Cobden’s Agricultural area including their impacts on the receiving waterbodies of Muskrat Lake and the Cobden and Snake River Provincially Significant Wetlands.
Mrs. Collins says work has been undertaken to meet the requirements of O.Reg. 588/17: Asset Management Planning for Municipal Infrastructure, made under the Infrastructure for Jobs and Prosperity Act, 2015, whereby “Every municipality shall prepare an asset management plan in respect of its core municipal infrastructure assets by July 1, 2021.”
“Core infrastructure assets” include paved and unpaved roads; bridges; culverts; any assets involved in wastewater collection, conveyance, treatment and disposal; urban and rural stormwater systems; water treatment, distribution and transmission, and; public and non-profit housing infrastructure.
The Township sourced Watson and Associates Economists to conduct a Water and Wastewater Rate Study, which began late 2019. A final report anticipated in Winter or Spring 2020. Township documents state HWY 17 sanitary system has had both flow concerns and blockages, hence the system is now being monitored with regular flushing. OCWA are assessing this section of sanitary sewer and will provide data upon completion of the assessment.
The McLeod Municipal Drain project was awarded to Robinson Consultants in 2019 with work to commence in 2020. According to Township documents, the project objectives include, but are not limited to, provisions for change in land use from agricultural, vacant and undeveloped land, amending the 1982 Report under Section 65(3) of the Ontario Drainage Act, to allow for development. Documents state costs associated with this type of amendment as well as a “buy-in” amount is assessed directly to the developer. Confirmation the open ditch portion of the drain and the closed drain provide “sufficient outlet”.
Supplemental Drainage Superintendent Services was awarded to Robinson Consultants in 2019 with work to commence in 2020. The Township states project objectives include, but are not limited to: review files to ensure full documentation of the drain (by-law, governing Engineer’s Report, plans & profiles, etc.); visual inspection and photographic inventory of all drains within the Township; conversion of “assumed datum” to geodetic datum to allow for use of modern survey equipment and accurate reporting; profile and cross-section survey of all drains to determine maintenance requirements; prepare a report of findings and recommendations to address identified issues; report to Council; and develop policies, procedures and recommendations for use by Township Drainage Superintendent in addressing landowner concerns with regard to “Award Drains”.
Ontario Regulation 588/17: Asset Management Planning for Municipal Infrastructure, made under the Ontario Jobs and Prosperity Act, 2015, required the municipality to complete and submit a Strategic Asset Management Policy to by July 1, 2019. This document will guide asset management in relation to all infrastructure including wastewater and storm water.
In 2018, the Township moved forward with the Truelove, John and Crawford St. Rehabilitation project. Approximately 91 metres of sanitary sewer pipe was replaced. Clouthier Construction completed a manhole rehabilitation project following an Inflow and Infiltration study to reduce stormwater and surface water inflow. Approximately half of the identified manholes were rehabilitated. A road and sanitary sewer engineering design project was awarded for Simpson St. According to the Township, these works will provide a “shelf ready” project for replacement of approximately 245 metres of 1950’s clay sewer pipe.
Mrs. Collins stated during routine annual camera work and the flushing of sanitary system, OCWA identified an Enbridge gas line bored through the 1950’s clay pipe. The gas line was removed by Enbridge Gas while OCWA made repairs to the sanitary line. The entrance and exit holes of the gas line represented an avenue for groundwater to potentially enter the sanitary system.
The Township was unsuccessful in obtaining a grant application through Trans Canada Safety Fund in 2016 to purchase and installation a natural gas stationary back-up generator at the Morton Street Sewage Lift Station. However, the Township proceeded with an RFP to complete the project in 2017. An OCIF Application was submitted in 2017 to fund Truelove, John and Crawford St. road and linear asset rehabilitation. The application was unsuccessful.
The Township received a Small Communities Fund (SCF) grant in 2015 for Cobden Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades. Throughout the Municipal Class EA process storm water inflow and infiltration into the sanitary system were identified. OCWA undertook camera work and flushing of the sanitary system as part of their regular maintenance program. Approximately 10 per cent of the system is completed annually. “These efforts continue to be key in identifying any deficiencies present and future,” states the Township documents.
Repairs were carried out on sections of the sanitary sewer along HWY 17 in Cobden as previously identified. Repairs utilized full length relining of those sections of the sanitary (manhole to manhole), as well as spot repairs. An application was submitted to Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) to acquire funding to complete sanitary, storm, and water main rehabilitation on Truelove St. The application was unsuccessful.
J. L. Richards and Associates carried out a drainage study related to Wren Subdivision Phase One. Township documents state, “the study identified issues with existing dwellings, recommending remedial work to divert sump pumps due to high groundwater table. Currently there are four known dwellings in Phase One introducing basement sump waters directly into the sanitary. No storm sewer exists in this vicinity.”
In 2015, the Inflow and Infiltration Study provided a visual review of manholes within the Village of Cobden with a recommendation for correction of deficiencies. An isolated sanitary deficiency was identified on Morton Street introducing either groundwater, storm water or both. The deficiency was repaired in Fall 2015.
According to Township documentation, flow monitoring was commenced in 2014, which identified sections of the sanitary collection system which were most prevalent to storm water introduction during heavy rain events and spring freshet. The Morton Street Lift Station was also evaluated “as part of the Wren Subdivision peer review”. The lift station was deemed “appropriate to handle additional capacities”.
In 2012, the repair of the 1979 extended aeration package plant and both treatment and hydraulic capacity of the Plant were reviewed. In 2013, the Sewer Use by-law was updated; phase two of the approved Wren Subdivision initiated a capacity review of the Cobden
Wastewater Plant; and the Highway 17 water main project included sectional sanitary system replacement from McLaren Systems to the intersection of HWY 17 and Astrolabe Rd. Sections not requiring full replacement were identified for cast-in-place works at a later date.
