Mapleton officials will soon meet with provincial representatives to discuss requirements for interim capacity approvals for a local wastewater system.
CAO Brad McRoberts advised council on Nov. 14 the pre-consultation will take place with representatives of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) on Nov. 27.
The goal is to examine provincial requirements to issue interim capacity, allowing some development to proceed in Drayton and Moorefield, which have been under a long-standing development freeze due to lack of wastewater capacity.
“A pre-consultation is basically, ‘what do you guys need from us in order to give us an approval?’” McRoberts explained.
In September of 2016, the MOECC indicated it would support an interim capacity increase if the township can demonstrate that with optimization of the current wastewater treatment system, an improved water quality discharge and a partial increase to the rated wastewater volume (750m3/day) can be achieved.
The ministry 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.
Council has included funding for a water tower and wastewater capacity upgrades in its draft 2018 budget and the projects have also been worked into current water and wastewater rates.
McRoberts, who was participating in his last meeting as CAO before leaving the municipality to take a job with the municipality of South Bruce Penninsula, expressed regret he wouldn’t be around to see the end of the township’s capacity issues.
“I always wanted to get that one task off your list … But at least we’ve gotten close to it,” he stated, adding he has “full faith” a solution will be reached.
