WELLINGTON NORTH – Annual reserve capacity calculations for wastewater treatment plants in Arthur and Mount Forest show each community has some room for residential growth.
For 2020, Triton Engineering Services Limited calculated uncommitted reserve capacity equivalent to 14 residential units in Arthur, which indicates the treatment plant is processing wastewater just below its design capacity of 1,465 cubic metres of average daily flow.
A staff report from director of operations Matt Aston notes planned phase 1 construction at the Arthur Waste Water Treatment plant will increase the capacity to 1,860 cubic metres.
“Once completed, this construction project will create an additional 395 units of sewage allocation. Township staff are recommending that council approve the allocation of 10 units of uncommitted capacity for infill lots in Arthur,” the report notes.
“Staff are comfortable with this recommendation knowing that Phase 1 of the Arthur WWTP is underway and currently scheduled for competition in late 2020.”
The Triton report documents uncommitted reserve capacity of 591 residential units at the Mount Forest plant, which indicates the treatment plant is currently operating below its design capacity of 2,818 cubic metres of average daily flow.
“Township staff are recommending that council approve the allocation of 20 units of uncommitted capacity for infill lots in Mount Forest, consistent with the township’s sewage allocation policy,” the report states.
Mayor Andy Lennox called the report good news, noting that in the village of Arthur, “some years can’t offer any development opportunities.”
Lennox attributed the encouraging capacity numbers to inflow and infiltration work undertaken in the urban areas.
“It sometimes seems like we spend a lot of money on those inflow and infiltration activities, but they do have a payoff down the road,” he pointed out.
“I think we need to keep up the effort on that and the other things that help us get capacity without having to spend millions of dollars (on capital projects).”
Water rate study
The township has awarded an RFP for a water and sewer rate study to DFA Infrastructure International Inc.
The company’s quotation of $22,285 plus applicable taxes was the lower of two received.
A staff report from Aston at the April 20 council meeting notes the township recently worked with DFA when completing its 2019 development charges study.
Truck purchase
Council also approved the purchase of two pickup trucks for a total of $82,545.
At the recommendation of Aston, council accepted the tender from Leslie Motors, the lower of two received, for the 2020 vehicles.
Once the new trucks arrive, a 2008 pickup used by the roads department will be provided to the building/property standards department to replace that department’s 2005 model, which will be sent to auction or scrapped.
A 2012 model from the township’s fleet will also be sent to auction.
