WHITEWATER REGION (Cobden) — It’s hoped that construction of the new wastewater treatment plant in Cobden will begin next month.
Last month, Whitewater Region council awarded the tender for facility construction to Baseline Constructors Inc. in the tendered amount of $10,980,000 (excluding HST). However, the total cost could be as high as $12,216,726, which includes engineering, contract administration and construction (excluding HST).
The current plant is 39 years old and is reaching the end of its useful life, noted Janet Collins, physical services manager for the township. She noted this plant has a single processing unit, without backup.
Muskrat Lake was designated a highly sensitive at-capacity lake trout lake and while the plant isn’t the greatest nutrient contributor to the lake, it is the largest point source. Steve Hodson, supervisor of solid waste and safety for the township, noted the plant contributes three percent of the phosphorous to the lake, which means that the other 97 percent comes from other sources, with individual sources contributing less than three percent each.
Realizing an upgrade or new plant was required, former councils began looking into the best solution, and in June 2015, received a $6.272 million New Building Canada Fund – Small Communities Fund grant from the provincial and federal governments. The township had to put in at least one third of that amount as well, with the initial project estimate being just over $9 million.
In the fall of 2015, a municipal class environmental assessment was initiated with consideration for modernization, improved treatment, increased capacity, redundancy and legislative requirements, Ms. Collins said.
Over the next three years, various aspects of the major undertaking were completed, including responding to a Part 2 Order, submitted by a local group, which caused about a year’s delay. It is believed that the number one reason for the Part 2 Order is that the local group did not want any bypasses into the lake. This request meant the Ministry of Environment (MOE) had to respond to the Part 2 Order, requiring the MOE to seek clarification from the township as the proponent to the order.
Mr. Hodson noted there’s about one or two bypasses a year, and they usually occur in the spring when there are heavy rains and spring run-off.
While it may not be pleasant to have bypasses of raw sewage going into the lagoon, which then flows into Muskrat Lake, Ms. Collins explained that of the sewage, much of it is grey water. She compared it to the usual use of a house, which includes water from showering, doing dishes, as well as Mother Nature, which could be a quick melt of snow or even a heavy rainfall.
Mr. Hodson noted the raw sewage is doused with chlorine before it bypasses, which disinfects it. He also noted with the amount of grey water in the system, solids are heavily diluted.
Ms. Collins noted if there is no ability to bypass, then during extreme weather events or catastrophic failures there would be numerous locations where raw sewage could back up into homes and businesses.
As for how much the Part 2 Order contributed to the costs of the project is not specifically known, she said. It would be hard to determine exact costs because there are so many different aspects that would have to be calculated in.
As for getting more funding for the project, she said, “There is no more money under this grant as it sits.” While council can make application for more funding, “We probably would not be successful if we applied,” she added following discussions with grant administrators.
Any money the Cobden ratepayers will be required to pay will be debentured for upwards of 30 years, she said. Until the project is completed, there will be a construction loan before obtaining the debenture, she added.
Construction of the new facility is expected to begin when the Environmental Compliance Approval Certificate is approved by the MOE, which should be by September, he said.
However, that doesn’t mean other work on the project can’t be started. There is preliminary work that can be done prior to the certificate being approved, she added.
The building will be constructed just inside the current fence nearest to the start of the nature trail. It’s expected the project will be fully completed by October 2021. This will also include upgrades to the current plant, she added.
Once the work is completed, the two plants will be working as one, Ms. Collins said.
The age of the current plant is one reason the construction is required, but another is so there can be growth in Cobden, Mr. Hodson said. There are two subdivisions which are proposed for Cobden. The expansion of Wren Subdivision and the development of what is known as the Bennett Farm near the Astrolabe Arena.
“This is a very positive project for the town,” Ms. Collins said. “It will provide tertiary treatment, which is the next level of treatment. It will be a benefit to Muskrat Lake.
“We understand the costs are large, but it needs to be done. We are over-capacity now. We have gone as long as we can with this plant.”
Mr. Hodson added, “If you consider that Cobden pulls its drinking water out of Muskrat Lake, the cost of this project, and the future cost to the residents, basically you’re looking at the cost to support environmental, community and social health.
“It seems overwhelming, but this is what it costs to treat sewage so there is minimal impact on the lake.”
The Rates
There are currently 421 ratepayers on the Cobden water and wastewater plants.
There are seven different wastewater rates, with residential/multi residential and small commercial paying $211.21 quarterly (multi residential is only for the first unit, each additional unit is $168.96 quarterly). The medium and high/large commercial industries are charged $316.82 and $422.42 quarterly respectively.
There are also metered rates, which are $9.92/1000 galls or a minimum of one small residential or commercial quarterly rate, whichever is higher.
However, it must also be noted, that these same residents are also paying water rates.
These rates range from $178.52 quarterly up to $357.05 quarterly.
