Council here has authorized staff to issue a request for proposals for design work to take the township’s wastewater treatment system to full capacity.
Measures aimed at securing approval for an interim capacity increase from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) were also approved by council on Sept. 13.
In a report at the meeting, CAO Brad McRoberts explained township staff, the MOECC, GRCA, and EXP Services Inc. have been meeting over the past two months in an attempt to find solutions for the township’s wastewater capacity needs as part of the ongoing Wastewater Capacity Upgrade Environmental Assessment process.
As a result of discussions, McRoberts said, “a path forward” has been determined regarding MOECC concerns related to the extent of the mixing zone in the Conestogo River below the treatment plant’s effluent discharge point.
The concerns are expected to be resolved based on a field verification study to be conducted this fall, at which point the ministry could accept the Receiving Water Impact Assessment, a critical component of the capacity upgrade Environmental Assessment.
“The MOECC indicated that it would be willing to support an interim capacity increase if it can be demonstrated, as part of the Receiving Water Impact Assessment, that with optimization of the wastewater treatment system currently in place, an improved water quality discharge in conjunction with a partial increase to the rated wastewater volume (750m3/day) can be achieved,” the report states.
McRoberts said the MOECC has indicated the interim capacity increase would be conditional upon the township continuing to advance toward the full upgrade of the wastewater treatment facility within a reasonable time period.
The CAO reported staff and GRCA officials are supportive of this approach as it can provide the following benefits:
– a shorter implementation period that would allow some additional growth in the shorter term;
– any optimization or capital investment required would be harmonious with the full upgrade; and
– the process allows the township more time to secure government funding for the full upgrade of the wastewater facility.
McRoberts explained the project has reached the stage of selecting a consultant to undertake detailed design work for the full upgrade of the treatment facility.
EXP Service’s scope was limited to the Receiving Water Impact Assessment Update (RWIA), Environmental Assessment Study Report (ESR), and preliminary design and cost.
“I like what I’m hearing,” said councillor Dennis Craven, noting that in the past, cooperation between the conservation authority and the ministry hadn’t always been apparent on local wastewater issues.
Councillor Michael Martin asked if the interim capacity, if approved, would allow for growth in urban areas “or just meet the demand we have now?”
McRoberts responded the interim capacity “might generate some capacity (for development) once reached.”
Council approved a resolution authorizing staff to:
– arrange for field verification testing of the mixing zone via targeted requests for proposals;
– expand EXP Service Inc.’s scope of work to include development of interim capacity requirements for the Receiving Water Impact Assessment and Environmental Assessment Study Report at a cost of $19,550 plus HST; and
– issue a request for proposals for the design of the full capacity of the wastewater treatment system as recommended in the Environmental Assessment Study Report.
Development in the village of Drayton has been stalled since the late 1990s over capacity limitations of the township’s wastewater treatment facility.
