DRAYTON – Mapleton Township and the federal government are partnering on a $5-million project for the design and construction of a new pumping station in Drayton.
The township will contribute $3 million and the federal government $2 million toward the replacement of the Drayton sewage pumping station.
The project will also include installing new sanitary system connections (forcemains) to the existing wastewater system and constructing an overflow storage facility.
These upgrades will allow the system to accommodate higher volumes of water during storms and prevent sewage discharges.
Kitchener-Conestoga MP Tim Louis and Mapleton Mayor Gregg Davidson announced the project at a press conference at the township administration centre on Feb. 27.
A joint press release states replacing the Drayton sewage pumping station will further protect the community and nearby waterways during severe weather events.
“The station will also become easier to maintain and more energy efficient through the installation of isolation valves and high-efficiency pumps,” the release notes.
“Making adaptation investments now will have major economy-wide benefits later. Every dollar that is invested in adapting and preparing for climate-related disasters can return as much as $13 to $15 in benefits.”
“Flood disasters are the most common and costly natural disasters affecting Canadians,” said Louis.
“Climate change has led to their increased frequency, causing more severe damage in many communities across the country, including those in Wellington County.”
Louis added, “The Government of Canada is investing to help communities not only mitigate the damage caused by severe weather, but also adapt to it. Replacing the Drayton sewage pumping station will help to protect the environment and residents of Mapleton from the impacts of flooding events.”
“Repairing and expanding Mapleton’s wastewater system is important to our community,” Davidson stated.
“We are thankful to the Government of Canada for contributing over $2 million towards our goals. This funding will be used to help safeguard our system from future flooding events and build capacity for community growth.”
A $5.2-million project to replace the wastewater pumping station on Mill Street in Drayton will receive $2 million dollars in federal funding. The remaining cost of the project will be covered by the Township of Mapleton under its approved Asset Management Plan. The proposed site for the new pump station building is across the river from the existing station, which is located in the floodplain. Photo by Sue Hogenkamp
Davidson added, “Limited sewage capacity for Drayton and Moorefield has restricted the growth of both our residential and industrial sectors. With the recent completion of our water tower, we know we have sufficient water capacity, but until we can increase the waste water handling capacity, we can’t grow.
“Our present system is nearing the end of its life, plus it’s not in an ideal location, next to the river.”
The mayor noted, “Local flooding, like what happened in June of 2017, creates the risk of sewage overflow. Operators have seven minutes by the time the flood alarm sounds, to when sewage overflow occurs. Locating a new wastewater pumping station across the river will be a huge improvement.”
“This will allow us to double the population of Drayton and Moorefield. Growth is in the air,” stated Mapleton CAO Manny Baron.
The federal contribution to the project comes from the government’s Disaster and Mitigation Adaptation Fund (DMAF). Applications for the fund are currently being accepted until July 19, 2023.
Launched in 2018 with initial spending of $2 billion, the DMAF helps communities build infrastructure to better withstand natural hazards such as floods, wildfires, earthquakes, and droughts. Through the 2021 federal budget, the government spent an additional $1.375 billion in the DMAF.
