Arthur wastewater EA to be completed later this spring

The final steps in the Arthur wastewater treatment plant environmental assessment are in the works as the last public meeting was held on March 30.

Wellington North is undergoing an EA to increase the capacity of the Arthur plant to accommodate future growth. The EA is in the final stages and should be presented for review later this spring.

“At the last public meeting, the discussion was really in regard to alternatives to solve the wastewater problem and this presentation here really looks at what some of the selections have been for that solution and put forward a plan,” said Matthew Aston, director of public works.

The EA outlines a $12.9-million capital project that is split into two phases. Phase one would increase the capacity to 1,860 cubic metres a day. Phase two would upgrade the capacity to 2,300m3 daily to meet 2031 growth.

The plan also includes a $2.9-million upgrade to the Fredrick Street sewage pumping station.

Part of the cost would be funded from water and sewer  reserves, explained Aston, but the township will be looking into funding options.

Aston also said the municipality is looking into alternatives for the process. Along with Mark Anderson of the GRCA, Aston made a presentation to the Wellington North public works committee on March 30 about wastewater treatment plant “optimization.”

The GRCA and the township have been in discussion since late 2015 to develop an alternative solution for the plant. The GRCA’s plan would provide an alternative method to achieve 1,860m3 of capacity.

“The idea with an optimization plan would be to make modifications to the existing plan to allow for better process control of the plant,” said Aston. “Optimization would see the township invest in additional flow metering/ monitoring and valve controls to give the plant operator more flexibility.”

The optimization plan does not have any cost estimate, as details of the plan are still in development, explained Aston.

He added it would compliment the existing EA study, which would remain valid for 10 years.

The completion of the EA is scheduled this spring. Aston is hoping construction could start in 2017.

 

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