Arthur wastewater treatment plant upgrades to begin early next year
Wellington North township expects second phase of upgrades to take two years
ARTHUR – Upgrades to Arthur’s wastewater treatment plant are expected to begin early next year and take about two years to complete.
The project will increase the plant’s wastewater treatment capacity from 1,860 to 2,300 cubic metres per day, with a price tag nearing $20 million, including HST, according to a township staff report updating council on the upgrades.
It is the second phase of upgrades and expansion at the plant. The first phase was completed in 2020 and increased capacity from 1,465 to 1,860m³/day.
Funding for phase two comes from a $13-million provincial grant, $2.5 million in debenture proceeds, $1.6 million from development charge reserve funds, $700,000 from other township reserves and $2 million in tax rebates.
If the upgrades cost more than currently estimated, provincial funding could increase to a maximum of $14 million or 73 per cent of the total cost.
“The township would continue to be responsible for 27% of any additional eligible costs, with additional growth-related costs funded from the sanitary and sewer development charges reserve fund and additional non-growth costs funded from the sanitary and sewer reserve fund,” the report states.
Mayor Andy Lennox said the project “really wouldn’t be possible without contribution from provincial partners – that $14 million is a huge, huge lift to making this project possible at the time that this is and also helping to keep the rest of our system affordable for the residents today.”
Phase two increases the plant’s aeration and pump capacity and includes upgrades to its forcemain and headworks, decreasing system redundancy and improving plant performance and effluent quality, according to township staff.
“Detailed design has been completed, and the project tender will be ready to issue by late 2026,” the report states.
The contract will be awarded in early 2027, and township staff expect the upgrades to take about 24 months to complete.
“It’s exciting to see phase two moving forward,” said councillor Steve McCabe. “I’m looking forward to when that tender goes out and we can start the phase-two building – it’s a long time coming.”
