It is impressive to see Township of Mapleton officials are thinking outside the box in terms of efforts to increase capacity at the local sewage treatment plant.
While the township is exploring all the traditional avenues, such as looking for and eliminating infiltration into the system, a local ad hoc committee working on the problem is also looking at more creative solutions.
Rather than confining themselves to the idea of freeing up existing capacity or seeking an increase in flow rates allowed on the treatment plant’s certificate of approval, township officials are also seeking Ministry of Environment support for plans to use the treated water from the plant for irrigation of fields and a proposed golf course, rather than simply dumping overflows into the Conestogo River. Given the treated water is considered cleaner than the river water itself, the concept holds the potential for environmentally-responsible disposal of waste water.
Since additional capacity must be found in order to lift a provincially-mandated freeze on local development, creative solutions will be integral to any prospects for future growth in the municipality’s urban centres.
