VOLUME 16 / NUMBER 2 $3 APRIL 2009 PM# 40064924 NOTE FROM THE CHAIR Andrew Garnett MPWWA Chairperson t has been a little better than eight Imonths now since we hired Clara as our registrar. Since this time I can say, without a doubt, we have come a long way in how we are structured and how we do business. Efficiency is very key to being successful in what - ever you do. Thanks Clara for all your hard work and dedication. Photo courtesy of the Canada-Nova Scotia Infrastructure Secretariat Over the past year, the MPWWA The funding announcement on February 20 was attended by: Carolyn Bolivar-Getson, Lunenburg West MLA; Lawrence Mawhinney, mayor of Lunenburg; Premier of Nova Scotia education committee has worked Rodney MacDonald; MP Gerald Keddy, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade. with government representatives to ensure the workshops offered by the association are structured properly and present the necessary informa - Lunenburg and Bridgewater receive funding tion to satisfy the training require - ments for certification. Your feedback is welcomed at every workshop and esidents of Bridgewater and Lunenburg can structure program in the history of the province,” proved wastewater treatment. The total cost of the we invite you to share with us your look forward to enhanced water and waste - says Premier MacDonald. “We are building for project is $2,303,400, to be funded equally by the needs or that of your municipality. Rwater systems thanks to funding under the growth, with infrastructure, with financial support federal and provincial governments and the Town The MPWWA website has seen communities component of the Building Canada to create and protect jobs and with other measures of Bridgewater. some major changes in recent Fund. to stimulate the economy and prepare for a The project in the Town of Lunenburg includes months and more are planned. Op - On February 20, federal, provincial and munic - stronger future. Projects like this one will con - the installation of new sanitary sewers, a pumping portunities to interact through the ipal funding of $3,652,800 was announced by Pre - tribute to stronger communities and a stronger station and a watermain replacement for 50 house - internet are limitless. In time, every - mier of Nova Scotia Rodney MacDonald and MP economy.” holds. The removal of the current sewer outfall thing that our association does will Gerald Keddy, Parliamentary Secretary to the Min - The Town of Bridgewater project includes the will eliminate untreated wastewater from entering be available with a click of a mouse. ister of International Trade, on behalf of John installation of new storm sewers and part of the Lunenburg’s front harbour. The total cost of the Our annual conference will be Baird, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and sanitary sewer system. The project will also enable project is $1,349,400, to be funded equally by the held in Charlottetown, Prince Ed - Communities. backup power to be installed at two pumping sta - federal and provincial governments and the Town ward Island, from April 26 to 29. A lot of hard work has been put into or - “This investment is part of the largest infra - tions. About 150 households will benefit from im - of Lunenburg. ganizing the various workshops, dis - plays and programs. I hope that you get the chance to attend as it is well INDEX: worth it. E R Tignish Projects ......................... 2 E Best of luck in 2009! MPWWA Profile ......................... 4 H Halifax WWTF ............................ 5 L E News Briefs ................................ 6 B Rural PEI Funding ...................... 8 A Pictou County Improvements .. 10 L S Alma Investment ...................... 11 S E Wastewater Effluent Strategy .. 14 R ADI Contracts .......................... 15 D Penobsquis ........................ 18-20 D A PAGE 2 NEWS Maritime Provinces Water & Wastewater Report APRIL 2009 Stimulus package offers hope to Coalburn residents BY JENNIFER VARDY LITTLE THE NEWS TRANSCONTINENTAL MEDIA he failing economy could actually have a pos - itive effect on the Coalburn and Greenwood Tarea in Nova Scotia with talks that the fed - eral stimulus package may mean funding for a major sewer project. This extensive sewer project could potentially stretch from the Crossroads Country Market to the highway and might also include the MacLellans Brook area. “They’re looking for any shovel-ready projects to go in for consideration,” says warden Ronnie Baillie. “This is something that we can do quickly to qual - Photography by Alanna Jankov ify for this new money from the federal govern - Details of the Tignish infrastructure projects were announced at the Tignish village office on February 28. Participating in the announcement were (from left to right): Elmer Arsenault, chairperson of ment.” the Tignish Community Council; Gail Shea, Minister Fisheries and Oceans; Neil LeClair, PEI Minister of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Rural Development; Allen Gavin, chairman of water, sewage In order to qualify for the funding, projects must and policy for Tignish Community Council. be able to be completed within two years. Baillie says that timeframe is possible for this sewer project. Councillor Randy Palmer proposed the idea at a Tignish projects receive financial boost recent council meeting saying the sewer line could hook onto the processing plant in Thorburn which already services the village. It would make the in - esidents of Tignish will benefit from infra - To complete the two projects, the Government of (BCF-CC). The municipal allocation from the stallation of the system much easier and less expen - structure improvements as a result of joint in - Canada will invest up to $48,031 from the communi - Canada-Prince Edward Island Gas Tax program will sive than it would be for other areas, he explains. Rvestments by the governments of Canada, ties component of the Building Canada Fund and up be up to $7,500. The municipal government will fund One of the main benefits of installing a line Prince Edward Island and the Community of Tignish to $21,250 from the Canada-Prince Edward Island up to $9,364 of the remaining eligible project costs. would be future development in the area. A devel - through the Prince Edward Island communities com - Gas Tax Fund. The Government of Prince Edward Is - oper recently purchased 40 acres of land in the ponent of the Building Canada Fund. land, through the Department of Communities, Cul - Development of a second well field site: Coalburn area and is considering constructing a Federal, provincial and municipal funding of tural Affairs and Labour, will fund up to $48,031. The The community of Tignish currently has one well $144,092 for the Tignish projects was announced on subdivision. “But without a sewer in, it won’t take municipal government will provide the balance of the field that services approximately half of the residents February 28 by: Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and place,” says Palmer. total eligible project costs up to $26,780. Thanks to and cannot sustain the level of service to the remain - Oceans (on behalf of John Baird, Minister of Trans - Before the municipality can go any further with these contributions, these projects are two of many der. A second well field site will increase the commu - port, Infrastructure, and Communities); Keith Ash - the sewer project proposal, they first need to find across the province that will break ground quickly. nity’s capacity to add more customers to the utility field, Minister of State - Atlantic Canada out if the residents want a sewer line. Letters will be and also serve as a backup if the first well field should Opportunities Agency; Neil LeClair, PEI Minister of About the projects… sent out to ratepayers in the area to see if they’re in - Fisheries, Aquaculture and Rural Development (on ever be contaminated. terested in the project. Palmer also plans to contact behalf of Carolyn Bertram, Minister of Communities, Lagoon upgrades: This project will fund the evaluation and provision them personally, either by phone or by going door Cultural Affairs and Labour); Elmer Arsenault, chair - The outlet manholes are key to maintaining the of test wells for an additional well field site, as well as to door. person of the Tignish Community Council. water levels at the Tignish Sewage Treatment Plant. hydrogeological well drilling to determine the proba - “It’s up to the people — it’s not up to me,” Palmer The Tignish funding will be used to develop a sec - Since the structure is 40 to 50 years old and deterio - bility of a potential site to provide the quality and says. “With all the stimulus money available right ond well field site and perform upgrades to the la - rating, this project will replace the concrete discharge quantity of ground water required. Recommenda - now, we want to try and take advantage of it. A goon. manhole and the secondary corrugated metal dis - tions of the best wells for production will be possible number of people have been asking for it for years. “Sustainable infrastructure is key to creating a vi - charge manhole, thus lengthening the life span of the once the drilling program is complete. Now’s the time to get it if we want it, so we’re trying brant, healthy community,” says LeClair. “Our gov - lagoon. A secondary bypass will be constructed to en - The total project cost is estimated at $93,500. to put it out there to them.” Residents would have the opportunity to vote on ernment is proud to be supporting these projects able draining of the lagoon for necessary repairs and Through the BCF-CC, federal and provincial govern - the project, which would only proceed if the ma - which will lead to improving our environment, as well maintenance. ments will each contribute up to $31,167. Up to jority of residents are in favour of it.