Erin council has approved its wastewater environmental assessment (EA) for a 30-day review period.
Joe Mullan of Ainley Group presented an update and review of the EA to council at a special session on April 24.
The almost 2,000-page draft environmental study report will be made available for public comment starting May 14.
Councillor Jeff Duncan, said the town has been “figuring out the technical capabilities” for wastewater for the last decade, but the process is coming to an end.
“It’s something we’ve had to do, but at the end of the day, it’s getting it done, it’s putting a nose to the grindstone and accomplishing it, because once you’re finished it … then you’ve got the opportunity for the future of what you want to do,” said Duncan.
Councillor Matt Sammut said he still worries about using the town’s full debt capacity of $20 million to fund the $118-million wastewater project, noting there may be “negative surprises” down the road with town infrastructure.
“If we end up going crazy with debt on a project like this, we’re going to hamper other areas,” Sammut said.
“From a debt capacity perspective we better figure this out.”
Sammut also said the town has to look further into the cost to the residents through the cost of hooking up. He said that it wasn’t clear what the bottom line costs would be.
“And that’s wrong on our part, we should be totally transparent and totally clear,” he said.
Mullan clarified only residents using the system would be required to pay operating costs and only residences that will be hooked up to the system were used in calculating the capital costs per resident.
“All the costs that you see and the calculations that we’ve spit out in the end of the cost per unit or cost per user is based on that only being shared with your serviced community area,” Mullan said.
“That’s sort of the assumption that we’ve made since day one. Obviously it’s your right should you choose to change that, but that’s all the calculations that we’ve done since the beginning.”
Mayor Allan Alls said he started the conversation of rural property owners helping to pay for the capital costs of the system. The mayor said in 2015 he saw the “initial construction and basics of the system” as “town-paid.”
At the April 24 meeting, Alls said he has been “beaten down” and has now changed his mind.
“I’ve had rural people tell me they think they should pay a share of it because they know it will stabilize their taxes. However, I also know what the Municipal Act says,” he said.
Alls added the wastewater project will be impossible to complete without government funding. The EA is good for 10 years once passed.
“It’s not money spent foolishly, it’s money well-spent,” said Alls.
Council unanimously approved the recommendation to go forward with a 30-day review.
Wastewater project
The Town of Erin has been heading toward a wastewater treatment plant since at least 1995, when a study by the public health unit showed properties close to the West Credit River in Erin village were identified as increasing the potential for contamination.
In 2005, a Ministry of Environment and Climate Change septic investigation found that the community’s septic systems were contributing to nutrients in the river. The town completed a Servicing and Settlement Master Plan (SSMP) in 2014.
Council then voted in 2015 to complete a full wastewater environmental assessment (EA), which is currently in phase four. The draft EA identifies a preferred alternative of a treatment and collection facility that can service up to 14,559 people.
The preferred alternative for effluent outfall – where treated water is released – is the west side of Winston Churchill Boulevard in the West Credit River.
The preferred alternatives for the location of a wastewater treatment facility are Solmar-owned lands or Halton Crushed Stone (HCS) lands, on either side of Wellington Road 52.
The preferred collection method for each village is a blend of gravity and low pressure systems.
The preferred connection between each community would use the Elora Cataract Trail.
In a cost breakdown presented on April 24, the total cost of the preferred alternatives is $118.2 million, including $72.4 million to service the existing community.
Of the total cost, $55.2 million is needed for collection, $61.4 million for treatment and $1.6 million for outfall.
The report states the town can only finance $20 million of the total cost and government grants would be required to cover the shortfall.
Based on financing $20 million of the project, Ainley broke down the costs to each household.
The capital cost component for each property would be $7,500. In addition, Ainley said residents should expect to pay on average between $4,000 and $8,000 for connecting to the system.
The 30-day review of the report commences on May 14.
Comments are to be received by the end of day on June 14. Requests for a part two order must also be sent to the ministry by the end of the day on June 14.
