VOLUME 17 / NUMBER 3 $3 PM# 40064924 JULY 2010
NOTE FROM THE CHAIR Andrew Garnett MPWWA Chairperson
n behalf of the MPWWA Executive I hope Oyou all are enjoying your summer and tak - ing advantage of some of the great weather we are experiencing. The good weather has also helped in construction as well. I know in Wood - stock we have taken advantage of the great weather and are ahead of most of our schedule for the year. Since the last time the paper was published the annual conference in Saint John has wrapped up. Thanks Rob for all the hard work that went into the planning for the conference, it was a great A boom holds back oil a foot deep in a marshy area of the Gulf of Mexico. Ground Force Environmental Inc. is helping to clean up the spill. See the story on page 3. (Photo: Contributed) success. One of the main highlights for me was the great response from the silent auction that was held. A lot of money was raised for the local Halifax sewage treatment back on line autism center. Thanks to all that helped organ - ize, donate items, and purchased many great “Their patience and understanding has gone a Herring Cove—have been treating sewage for some items. A special shoot out goes to Alan Benninger BY STAFF—HALIFAX NEWS NET long way in making everyone’s job easier during this time now without incident. Harbour Solutions is who during a difficult time made it the success it was. Look for a similar event to happen in Hali - arbour sea life breathed a sigh of relief difficult time,” he said. the largest capital project in the community’s his - fax next year!! Thursday (June 24) with news that the Hal - The Mayor noted that the recommissioning of tory. At the annual conference the Art Bell Award Hifax wastewater treatment plant is back on the plant was timely, given how busy the Halifax- Mayor Kelly praised the staff of Halifax Water, was given to Mike O’Leary from Antigonish line once more and functioning as it should. Dartmouth waterfronts were becoming with the ar - D&D Construction and its subcontractors for their County in Nova Scotia (Zone 8 Rep). Mike has Halifax Regional Municipality Mayor Peter Kelly rival of the tourist season and the presence this week dedicated work in recommissioning the Halifax served the association very well while being part welcomed the announcement. of more than 5,000 international sailors and their plant. of the MPWWA. He has assisted with many “This is great news for residents and visitors ships, celebrating the Canadian Navy’s 100 birthday. He added that he was looking forward to metro training workshops and helped in the planning alike,” he said. The $55-million Halifax plant went down in Jan - beaches at the Dingle and Black Rock reopening to and organizing of the annual conferences. Great “With all three plants of Harbour Solutions now uary 2009, after only a few weeks of operation when public swimming shortly. Halifax Water staff will be job Mike and very well deserved!!! operational, we can look forward to the cleanest a power failure caused catastrophic flooding. monitoring water quality to check on the plant’s I’d also like to take the time to thank Jody water our harbour has known in generations.” The facility is part of the $333-million Harbour performance. Comeau for being part of the executive. Jody de - The Mayor paid tribute sto residents for the sup - Solutions to treat sewage before it flows into the When the Halifax plant first opened in 2009, cided it was time to step down from the executive port they have shown during the past 17 months of harbour, the second largest natural harbour in the water quality in the area achieved safe levels in about and we wish him the best of luck. You brought a the plant’s recommissioning. world. Two other new plants – in Dartmouth and three days. lot of knowledge to the meetings and that will be missed. Thanks again Jody!! In closing I’d like to thank all the members of INDEX: the MPWWA for their continued support. Let’s E R
move forward together to make this the best as - Provincial award ...... 2 E sociation it can be. Enjoy the rest of your sum - Oil spil ...... 3 H mer. L
Biofilter in place ...... 5 E Andrew Garnett Water tower study ...... 5 B
Chairperson of the MPWWA A
Norman Robichaud remembered ... 7 L S
Plant tender ...... 8 S E
Waterline extension ...... 10 R
Storm sewer project ...... 11 D D
MPWWA Conference ...... 12 A PAGE 2 NEWS Maritime Provinces Water & Wastewater Report APRIL 2010 Local waste management plant earns provincial award
BY MATT MOLLOY feather in the hat of everyone involved with the project, which cost approximately $6 million and THE BEACON was paid for by both communities, while the he Glenwood/Appleton wastewater treat - provincial and federal governments provided help ment plant has been recognized for its posi - through its green fund. Ttive environmental impact by the "To be recognized by the Newfoundland and Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of New - Labrador Geological Society is a real plus for us, and foundland and Labrador (PEG NL). it's a real plus for Abydoz (the company that The local plant was one of five nominees up for brought the technology over from Germany)," said the award, which although is offered every year, isn't Mayor Flynn. "This way of handling waste has been necessarily handed out every year. The Iron Ore really effective for us. It's still a fairly new project, Company of Canada won it last year. and it's still proving itself. We're not saying it's going "We are a professional organization representing to be hunky dory from here on in, but so far so engineers and geoscientists in the province, and we, good, and we're very pleased with it." like most professional organizations, have a series From start to finish, it took about 10 years to of awards that we make either to our members, or to complete the project. When he looks back at it, people who fit our criteria," said Steve McLean, ex - Mayor Flynn said the two communities didn't re - ecutive director with PEG NL. "In this particular ally know what to expect, but now that it's won two case, it's for an environmental award, and is not nec - awards, he said the site is a real blessing. essarily given to an engineer or geoscientist, but is "When the towns made the decision, it was a bit made to an individual or organization that has of a leap of faith because it's new technology. We made an unusual application of technology or en - were concerned with the possibility of plant chill in gineering to overcome environmental challenges." the winter due to frost, and, of course, what the end The treatment plant that serves the communities results would be," said Mayor Flynn. "We are on the of Glenwood and Appleton sends sludge and waste - banks of the mighty Gander River, one of the top water to sludge beds for drying. Wastewater is then salmon-producing rivers and sports and recre - Appleton Mayor Derm Flynn holds the plaque given from the Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Newfoundland sent back out to reed beds, where toxins are natu - ation...and Gander Bay is just down the river." and Labrador for the success of the Glenwood/Appleton wastewater treatment plant. (Photo: Matt Molloy/The Beacon) rally filtered from the soil, eventually sending clean While standing near one of the reed beds last water into the Gander River. week, Mayor Flynn said he's extremely optimistic so there's lots of room for expansion and growth," ing left to do but hand out the plaque. "It improves the quality of the effluence in the about the future of the plant. Other municipalities said Mayor Flynn. "If there's a real growth spurt in "I think it's a proven use of the technology, and Gander River, and at the same time, it's a green proj - and industrial players have contacted Mayor Flynn housing in the area, we can easily add another bed. that's an advantage as well. We don't give out awards ect in the sense that it uses very little energy," said about the project. The Appleton mayor said envi - The site itself is very easy to expand, so we're ab - in cases where there's a plan or concept to do some - Mr. McLean. "It basically relies on gravity and nat - ronmental issues are coming to the forefront more solutely delighted, and it's a sign of things to come thing, or something's under construction. We want ural materials to cleanse the effluence, so you don't and more, and as they continue to do so, everyone for this type of project." to see that's it a proven application," said Mr. have to use chemicals, electricity or otherwise to will be looking at doing things that's more environ - Mr. McLean said the plant has already proven it - McLean. "It impressed the award's committee, and take on the problem. I think that's what gave it the mentally friendly. self, which is another reason why it won the award. also impressed the environment committee. There's edge, really." "We're very optimistic about the results down the The plant also impressed those responsible for not much more to say than we gave them the Appleton mayor, Derm Flynn, said the award is a road for this thing. It has a lifespan of 50 to 70 years, choosing the award, so in the end, there was noth - award." MARITIME BLOWER REPAIR INCORPORATED
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Oil is recovered by vacuum off the waters of the Gulf of Mexico by Ground Force Environmental Inc. (Photo: Contributed) Ground Force Environmental Inc. Sales and Marketing Manager John Theurer conducts an interview with ABC News World Louisiana while on site in the Gulf of Mexico. (Photo: Contributed) Canadian expertise being used to help mop up Gulf of Mexico
BY KATHY JOHNSON the water, which is treated to less than 15 parts per it,” the GFEI sales and marketing manager said. water and process technology remediation,” states a million. “We’ve been in Florida, Mississippi, Alabama and company press release. Canadian company is a force to be reckoned “Our goal is to remove 8,000 to 10,000 gallons of Louisiana. We’re going as required. Right now there AGI is a leader in providing remediation services with when it comes to helping clean up the oil a day per unit,” Theurer said. The company is are three supervisors that run between the different for a variety of clients in Ontario. The company has Amassive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. “aiming for five unit setups.” locations and it looks like it’s going to ramp up.” a proven track record for cost effective, reliable, and “We’ve been down there since day 40,” said John The technology was developed in conjunction GFEI provides the expertise, the equipment and responsive remediation options. Theurer, sales and marketing manager for the re - with Georgia-based Mycelx. the supervision, and it employs local work crews in EMRP is a well-known and reputable distributor cently formed Ground Force Environmental Inc. “We’ve worked with Mycelx for the past 10 years the cleanup operation. of advanced water treatment technologies with a (GFEI). “I think we will be down there for a while.” doing oil spills around Canada, the clean up after As temperatures soar to 112 degrees with the hu - 10-year history of responsiveness to client’s water In the Gulf of Mexico, the company has contracts Katrina… and now this lovely disaster.” Theurer midity, work conditions are “not the best,” Theurer treatment and wastewater treatment needs. with BP for shoreline protection and shoreline re - noted it was “because of our expertise down south said. “The afternoon heat is oppressive.” EMRP’s expertise in water reuse technologies has mediation, and oil recovery and water treatment on with Katrina that we got the call down” for the Gulf Out of Waterloo, Ontario, GFEI is an amalgama - allowed it to set itself apart as a go to firm for water barges, Theurer explained. disaster. tion of two leading remediation contractors and treatment technologies and water treatment sup - “We’re supplying a technology that is certified by GFEI is also doing shoreline protection along the suppliers AGI and EMRP. The merger took effect plies including granular activated carbon (GAC), the International Maritime Organization, Lloyds of Gulf of Mexico where the spill is threatening fragile June 1. ion exchange media, Mycelx, as well as a wide vari - London and the U.S. Coast Guard.” ecosystems. “The combined expertise of AGI and EMRP for - ety of spill response products including specialty ab - Basically oil is vacuumed up and separated from “We’ve been following it, trying to stay ahead of mulates a one stop shop for environmental soil, sorbent products and treatment material.
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Publications Mail Reg # 7145 Mailed under Canada Post Publications Mail Return undeliverable addresses to: Transcontinental Specialty Publications/Holiday Media Agreement No. 40064924 1888 Brunswick Street, Suite 609, Halifax, N.S., B3J 3J8 General Manager: Jeff Nearing Sales Manager: Henry Flowers The Maritime Provinces Water & Wastewater Report is published quarterly by Transcontinental Media Maritime Provinces Water & Wastewater Report Editor: Heather Jones Inc. The opinions expressed in the Maritime Provinces Water & Wastewater Report are those of the 1888 Brunswick Street, Suite 609, Halifax, N.S., B3J 3J8 authors and do not represent the official views of Transcontinental Specialty Publications or its man - Designer: David Schaffner Phone: (902) 468-8027 Fax: (902) 468-1775 agement. The Maritime Provinces Water & Wastewater Report and its contributors can accept no legal Sales Executive: Scott Higgins www.transcontinental-media.com responsibility for loss through any error in information contained herein. Contents of the Maritime Circulation: Bonnie Marchand Provinces Water & Wastewater Report may not be reproduced without written consent of the pub - Traffic: Camille MacPhail E-mail: [email protected] lisher, who accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, transparencies and other material. PAGE 4 NEWS Maritime Provinces Water & Wastewater Report APRIL 2010 MPWWA PROFILE: MikeO’Leary Every issue, the MPWWR shines a spotlight on an MPWWA member mak - ing a difference in the industry. Mike O’Leary is the focus of our July issue. No time to get into trouble “We are seeing a lot of the municipalities keeping a BY STEPHEN CLARE much closer eye on their budgets, so if our folks only Mike O’Leary knows the value of a full day’s work. have to travel a short distance once a year to get their “There is always something to do,” nods the 50-some - training done then so much the better.” thing Director of Public Works for Antigonish County, The yearly gatherings also give him and his peers the Nova Scotia. “And that is probably a good thing because chance to catch up with one another. it keeps me out of trouble!” “It’s great to reconnect with everyone and to share A life-long resident and employee of Antigonish what is going on in our personal and professional lives,” County, O’Leary has done a good job at keeping himself says O’Leary.“Sure, it is a lot of work for me to condense busy for the better part of 30 years. 12 month’s worth of new information into one or two Along with his daily duties, which include water sys - days, but it is really rewarding to see the results and to tems sampling, hydrant flushing, water breaks, sewer know that it is going to make a difference in the lives of blockages, and water and sewer hook ups at both resi - residents.” dential and commercial dwellings, the veteran operator Those efforts were acknowledged this past April, when says that the job is always full of surprises. O’Leary was presented with the MPWWA’s Art Bell “You just never know what the day is going to bring,” Award at a conference in Saint John, New Brunswick. he smiles, rolling his eyes. “Ask anyone in the industry “To be honest, it came as a complete surprise to me,” and they will tell you that there is no such thing as rou - he admits.“This isn’t something that gets handed out all tine with this job.” of the time so it carries a lot of extra special meaning with A 22-year member of the Maritime Provinces Water & Wastewater Association, O’Leary has spent the last 14 of it. It was a great honour for me to be recognized by my those as part of the organization’s executive team. co-workers in Atlantic Canada.” “The most important thing that we do is keep our op - For most, the award would signal an apex to their ca - erators certified and up to speed on the latest changes in reer and a possible call to retirement. the water and sewer industry,” he notes. “With so many “Oh I’m not done yet,” laughs O’Leary.“I love the peo - technological advances happening so quickly, it is more ple I work with way too much to say goodbye at this important than ever that we make sure that everyone is point. They’re like family to me. aware of what’s going on at all times.” “And,” he adds, smiling, “between them and all the To that end, O’Leary organizes an annual training ses - work that needs to get done I have no time to get into sion for area operators. any trouble!”
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BY ANDY WALKER odorizer to try and improve the smell. Walker said are needed. ants will also be asked to review other utilities to en - that was only designed to be a temporary measure. On another matter, he said city council should be sure the Island capital is following the industry’s ac - hile he admits the wastewater plant near He said the biofilter is similar to what is being awarding the contract for an independent review of cepted best practices. used in a number of other waste treatment plants the water and sewer utility at its July meeting. He the shores of the historic Hillsborough "The purpose of this study is to undertake an or - River may never smell like a garden, Craig across the country and at the provincial compost fa - said several bids were received when tenders closed W ganization and operation review and evaluation of Walker is hopeful a biofilter now in place will bring cility. He said the organic mass is designed to neu - in late May and they were sent to an evaluation the odour to an acceptable level. tralize the odour coming from the facility. “This is a committee for review. the administrative and operations of the utility in The manager of Charlottetown, Prince Edward completely green solution—it doesn’t involve any “The timelines are pretty tight,” the manager said. order to build a more efficient and effective organ - Island’s water, sewer and environment department additional chemicals being used.” “We are hoping to have the work finished by the end ization,” Walker explained. “This report follows the explained the Island capital commissioned CBCL The system was actually ready to go in February, of October.” recently adopted rate study for water and sewer and Limited to come up with a long-term solution to but was not put in place until warmer weather es - This is the first time there has been a review of the smelly problem. At one point, the city was using calated the odour problem. Walker said it will be the utility. Interviews will be conducted with Coun - will allow us to meet the demands of a growing util - what might best be described as a giant room de - evaluated when summer is over to see if any changes cil, senior managers, and utility staff. The consult - ity." Engineering study to proceed on aging Debert water tower
BY HARRY SULLIVAN The tower, which was put into service in 1976, be drained every two years to look for signs of aging carried out by engineering staff earlier this month has received a number of repairs over the years, in - and debonding. (June) confirmed water leakage continues from the THE TRURO DAILY NEWS cluding having it equipped with post-tensioned Another issue with the tank is that it supplies tower "and has possibly increased since the last in - steel cables around the bottom portion of its cir - water to areas that are actually nine metres (30 ft.) spection." [Truro, NS]—A structural engineering study will cumference in 2001, when it was determined that higher than the tower itself. A pumping system is in As well, no internal inspection of the tank has be conducted on an aging and substandard water portions of the tank were bulging. place to help remedy that situation but the overall been carried out since 1991, despite the consultant's tower in Debert (Nova Scotia). "The inspection in 2006 found a number of leaks setup results in low water pressure to some areas. Colchester County will spend up to $20,000 on but concluded that the post tensioned steel cables "Obviously they can't deliver adequate pressure," recommendation to do so. an external/internal study to determine the struc - are holding well and that the tower is structurally Public Works Director Ramesh Ummat told coun - Should the pending engineering study recom - tural integrity and remaining service life on the stable and is providing the service it was designed cil at its last meeting, of the community's wells and mend the tower be replaced, a site investigation will tower near the intersection of MacElmon's Road to provide," a staff report to council reads. pumping system. be carried out to determine the best location. Cost and Plains Road. But the 2006 study also recommended the tank According to the staff report, a visual inspection estimates would also be put forth at that time.
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Geotextiles • Gabion Baskets Erosion Control Blankets • Silt Fences • Drainage Pipe 4 Servicing Contractors and Municipalities PAGE 6 NEWS Maritime Provinces Water & Wastewater Report APRIL 2010 Marystown awards $6.6 million water treatment plant contract BY PAUL HERRIDGE THE SOUTHERN GAZETTE arystown Council (Newfoundland & Labrador) passed a motion Tuesday (May M25) awarding a $6.6 million contract to build the town’s new water treatment plant. The contract award to St. John’s-based GJ Cahill is subject to approval by the Department of Mu - nicipal Affairs. After much consideration, the decision was ulti - mately narrowed to two bidders – the other being Mount Pearl’s Tri-Star Mechanical – both using a microfiltration process as the basis for treating the water. The lower proposal of the two was selected. Mayor Sam Synard explained after last week’s meeting GJ Cahill will be the general contractor for the project, while a second contract would also be let for work related to the development sometime in the near future. “There are other components to the project as well that will go out in the next month or so, for another approximately $6 million worth of work. “So it’s a $12.6 million project.” The mayor suggested residents could expect to The water source in Marystown, Newfoundland & Labrador was moved from Linton Lake to Clam Pond about five years ago. Another major step in the process to add the town to the see some capital work begin before the end of this list of community’s in the province that treat its water was made in mid-May. Council awarded a $6.6 million contract to build a water treatment plant to St. John’s-based GJ Cahill. calendar year. (Photo: Paul Herridge/The Southern Gazette) “People will see some meaningful footings go in and water towers going up, to show us that things selection through studies, pilot projects and other floatation’ and ‘ultrafiltration’. residents for some time. Complaints from residents are moving in the right direction.” means. Explaining council’s decision to go with micro - include the water turning clothing – and even hair If all goes well, he acknowledged “We would In late 2008, a trio of companies each tapped filtration, Mr. Synard said “At the end of the day, – green. hope that we can finish this thing off at the end of into the town’s water source at Clam Pond to con - we chose the technology we chose because it seems Council in turn made water treatment its main 2011.” duct pilot projects featuring three different to work for the conditions of our water, that’s com - priority a few years ago and began the process to Mr. Synard explained a soda ash system might processes, overseen by engineering firm New - ing out of the water source itself.” secure the necessary funding. be used in conjunction with microfiltration, as a foundland and Labrador Consulting Engineers Ltd. Although testing has shown Marystown’s water Mayor Synard noted, “After all the talking we’ve complement, when all is said and done. He noted The two other water treatment processes origi - meets Canadian health standards and is safe to done about it, we’re finally letting some contracts, council has put a lot of effort into making the best nally for consideration included ‘dissolved air drink, discolouration and bad odour have plagued which is wonderful.”
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BY ANDY WALKER a significant portion of the gas tax money it received Norman Robichaud remembered from Ottawa in 2010 and 2011 to upgrade old pipes While a second well field is now ready for use in and equipment. Norman Robichaud of Meteghan Centre, Nova and his dedication to his job. Tignish, Prince Edward Island, it is not being brought She said Tignish is also preparing to either replace Scotia lost his battle with cancer and passed away “Members of the MPWWA executive speak on stream just yet. its existing sewer lagoon that was built in 1962, or July 1, 2010 at home. He was 80. highly about Norman Robichaud,” MPWWA Pres - The $93,500 project, financed under the Commu - build a second one. Mr. Robichaud had a varied career. He served ident Andrew Garnett said. “Mr. Robichaud was a nity Component program of the Build Canada Fund, This year, Acadia Construction was hired to do with the RCMP Marine Division and the Ameri - very valuable member of the association. He will is designed to provide for future growth of the water can Army and then spent 20 years as a Wastewater be missed.” $38,341 in upgrades. That, Gaudet-Gavin explained, system in the community of 830 on the western tip will be a significant expenditure for the community Treatment Plant Operator for Mr. Robichaud was of the province. and they are hoping they will be able to access federal the Municipality of Clare. born in Meteghan Centre, Administrator Karen Gaudet-Gavin explained the “When the plant started, a son of the late Leo and new well field would also provide a ready back-up if and provincial government programs to help pick up Norman became the first Stella (Robichaud) Ro - problems develop with the existing field. the tab. Wastewater Treatment Plant bichaud. He is survived by “We are poised pretty well for the future when we The community currently has an application be - Operator,” Jody Comeau re - his wife of 56 years, Clara; bring that into the system.” fore the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission called. daughters: Carol McMa - However, that isn’t going to happen for some time. (that regulates all utilities in the province) for a rate in - “Norman was a strong be - hon (Mike), Gloucester, Gaudet-Gavin explained that for the next two fiscal crease. Tignish is asking for the sewer costs to increase liever in the Maritime Mass.; Eileen Robichaud, years, the emphasis will be on replacing aging infra - from $148 to $180 and the water rate from $160 to Provinces Water & Waste - Indiana; Susan Austin structure in the sewer system to ensure it meets cur - $320. water Association Art Bell (Mark) Florida; brother rent standards. As press time, the commission had yet to rule on started. He worked hands-on Hubert (Kay) Robicheau, The administrator said the community plans to use the application. with new operators and Meteghan Centre; sisters: helped them learn the ropes Mariette Comeau, and get their job done. He Meteghan; Fedora (Louis) shared what he knew and he Deveau, Dartmouth; Lu - Contract accepted had a wealth of knowledge.” cilla (Frank) O’Connell, Comeau, having learned Ottawa; Jeanne (Ned) Employees at the wastewater facility in Trenton, Union Local 60A, agreed to accept a contract with from Mr. Robichaud, said, Nash, Chester; grandsons Nova Scotia were back on the job July 5. Pictou County Shared Services. “Norman had a good head on Michael McMahon and The unionized workers, represented by the The NSGEU had been locked out for almost five his shoulders. He was me - Alec Dennis, granddaugh - Nova Scotia Government Employees and General weeks. chanically inclined and had ter Shannon Crompton good common sense.” Norman Robichaud and step-granddaughter Mr. Robichaud was a Life - Sierra Austin; four great time Member of the MPWWA. He was one of the grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He was pre - first to sign up when the association expanded into deceased by his brother Mederic. Dominion beach reopens the Maritimes. Mr. Robichaud’s funeral was held July 5, in In 2000, he received the Art Bell Award in recog - Stella Maris Church, Meteghan. Interment was in The new $20 million sewage treatment facility for the last four years, was lifted June 30. nition of his exceptional service to the MPWWA the parish cemetery. in Dominion, Nova Scotia is working. The beach had been closed because of elevated k The swimming ban at Dominion beach, in place fecal bacteria levels in the water. PAGE 8 NEWS Maritime Provinces Water & Wastewater Report APRIL 2010 Town awards $12-million sewage treatment plant tender BY DARRELL COLE THE AMHERST DAILY NEWS [Amherst, NS]— One of the largest projects in the history of Amherst (Nova Scotia) cleared the final hurdle here Wednesday (May 12) with the awarding of a $12-million tender to construct the town's new sewage treatment facility on the marsh. "This is the culmination of the town's sewage abatement strategy that has been on our books for many years. What it means is that no longer will Amherst sewage be flowing untreated into the Bay of Fundy," town CAO Greg Herrett said following a special council meeting to award the tender to Brycon Construction Ltd. "We have spent a lot of time and a lot of effort up to this point to ensure the effluent was on the salt water side of the aboiteau. This is the final piece." The Dartmouth firm's bid of $12,026,710 was se - This patch of marsh in Fort Lawrence, Nova Scotia near the Trans-Canada Highway overpass will soon be the home of Amherst's new $12-million sewage treatment plant. Once oper - lected over bids from Modern Construction ational next year, the plant will treat all the sewage and wastewater coming from the town on its way to the Bay of Fundy. It's the biggest capital project in the history of the town. (Photo: ($12,386,400) and Dexter Construction Darrell Cole/The Amherst Daily News) ($16,217,825). Amherst has been working since 1993 to remove council when the abatement strategy got its start. outfall to the other side of the aboiteau on the ing the next calendar year." all its sewage from Dickey Brook, Etters Brook and "It's something the town has been working on for marsh, where tidal action of the bay has diluted the While the project was originally expected to cost the LaPlanche River. The Terrace Street pumping years and it's good to see it come to this stage," said sewage. The sewage treatment plant will complete about $10.9 million, the price tag has increased by station was built in 1995 while the LaPlanche River Maltby. "I'm sure the former director of operational the process so no untreated sewage makes it to the just over $1 million. Considering the size and im - pumping station was built in 2003, removing 85 per service Ron Patterson would be pleased to see it pro - bay. portance of the project, Herrett said it's an accept - cent of Amherst's wastewater from the river. ceed the way it has." The project is being funded three ways through able cost that will be overcome through future The project exceeds the multi-year Tyndal Well - Once operational, the lagoon-based plant will the Canada-Nova Scotia infrastructure program operational savings. field project of the early 1990s that cost about $7 mil - treat approximately three million cubic metres of with $7.2 million in federal-provincial funding that "It's a $12-million project. We engineers estimates lion and brought a new water supply to the town. sanitary effluent annually from the town and serve was announced last April by both levels of govern - done and based our application for federal and Among those on hand for the tender award was about 3,700 homes. ment in the town. provincial funding on those. The public tendering former town councillor Roy Maltby, who was on Recent work has included moving the sewage "It's a two construction season project. It's basi - process has produced a contract that's about $1 mil - cally a huge earthmoving project. We expect the lion in excess of where we hoped it would be, but contractors to be in the ground out there within the we'll closely watch the contingencies that are in the next few weeks and we expect to have it completed contract and minimize any additional capital costs," by next summer," Herrett. "We're not sure of the Herrett said. "We do hope the operational savings commissioning date, but we're hoping it will be dur - we have will offset the additional capital costs." 9 4 4 8 0 4 4
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17 APRIL 2010 Maritime Provinces Water & Wastewater Report NEWS PAGE 9 Upgrades planned Montague able to for wastewater treatment hook-up all residents BY HARRY SULLIVAN pensive head work pumps from such debris while helping reduce solids buildups in the deep wet BY ANDY WALKER might have been 10 or 20 houses but for the THE TRURO DAILY NEWS well. most part it was a handful of houses here and there throughout Montague.” [Truro, NS]—Environmental protection and The annual cost savings from reduced mainte - he largest town in eastern Prince Ed - improved efficiencies are keys to a new $17.2 mil - ward Island now has the capability to The administrator said there are even some nance and repairs are estimated at between properties outside the town boundaries that lion waste management master plan being im - $20,000 and $25,000, based on current equip - Toffer all residents the option of hooking are capable of being hooked up. He said those plemented in Colchester County (Nova Scotia), up to its water distribution system. ment upkeep costs. With just over $1 million from the Build are cases where they were adjacent to proper - Mayor Bob Taylor says. Other components of the plan will see im - ties within the town. Since the community is “It’s going to save us with our operational Canada Fund and its provincial counterpart, proved efficiencies to the system, increased treat - Build P.E.I., Montague has run its water line landlocked and has little room to expand, costs,” the mayor added, because of improve - ment capacity from four million gallons per day past the last 150 residents and businesses that Daggett said they had to go the extra mile to ments designed to “cut way down on our major to six million gallons at the waste treatment fa - previously had to rely on private wells. While assure outside residents this was not an at - maintenance.” cility in Lower Truro, and ultra violet disinfection there is no requirement for the properties to tempt at amalgamation. The county’s share of total cost amounts to to reduce pathogen content in the treated efflu - hook up, they will now be billed for the serv - “It was nothing more than just the way the $2.87 million (plus financing charges) for up - lines ran,” he said. “There was no hidden ent. ice. grades to the central wastewater treatment facil - agenda, but we did get some calls from people The expansion is designed to help handle ex - As sewer service was extended to all areas in ity. 2002, Andy Daggett said the community of outside the town wondering what we were cess capacity in times of excess rain. The Town of Truro is also expected to con - 2,100 is well positioned for the future. The doing.” tribute a similar amount while the provincial and “We’re fine for most circumstances but when chief administrative officer said the last 150 Daggett said the town views offering serv - federal governments are to each pick up $3.54 there’s excess rain it goes into overflow, which we customers were scattered throughout the town ices like water and sewer to all residents a million of the total tab. want to eliminate,” Taylor said. boundaries so it was a lengthy process to en - major priority. “It is a goal this council and previous councils have been working towards The $17.2 million cost also includes $4.4 mil - The second component of the plan, involving sure the service was extended across the board. for some time.” lion (plus financing) the county will spend for leachate treatment, will see construction of a “There were a couple of areas where there implementation of a leachate treatment and con - pipeline designed to provide improvements to veyance system, which makes up part of the waste the system through a new receiving and distribu - management master plan. tion chamber. The municipality also spent $733,985 (plus Currently, the leachate is collected at a pre- Your local partner for water treatment chemicals and services HST) for the engineering design of the two com - treatment site and trucked away at a cost of about ponents to the plan. That work was contracted to $200,000 per year. Those costs were expected to the combined team of CBCL Ltd., and ABL En - increase by about three per cent per year due to Flocculants Foam & Odour Feed & Control Control vironmental Consultants. an increase in volumes, plus an additional one Polymers Equipment Upgrades to the waste treatment facility in - per cent annually through fuel prices and truck - Coagulants Laboratory clude installing bar screens to help protect the ex - ing costs. Commodity Supplies/Training Chemicals Stern PAC Government required NSF ANSI 60 Certified Products Millennium Water Management Limited 7 3 8 8
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www.belzonaatlantic.com PAGE 10 NEWS Maritime Provinces Water & Wastewater Report APRIL 2010 Shelburne to see $2-million waterline extension
BY GREG BENNETT federal, provincial and municipal sources. The Town will fund almost $1-million on THE COAST GUARD its own to cover an overage after all ten - n a few weeks, parts of the Town of ders came in far over what was budgeted. Shelburne (Nova Scotia) will be filled The Mayor said the project costs will Iwith the sounds of construction as a not affect the Town’s tax rates. The town’s more than $2-million extension of the water utility is a separate entity that re - town’s waterline begins. covers its costs through water rates. ACL Construction, of Dartmouth, won Mayor Delaney said the company is the contract and the company is planning also hoping to hire local people in many to work on the project throughout the roles, including traffic control, labour, spring and summer in several phases. heavy equipment operators and other Excavators and dump trucks will be areas and is looking to hire independent rumbling along Water Street starting mid dump truck owners as well. month at the intersection of Minto Street The extension of the waterline was and will work south towards King Street. made possible as a result of the extra ca - Later, in the project sections along Minto pacity added from a $2.1 million upgrade and Mowatt Streets will also be completed. and expansion to the Town of Shelburne’s Construction on Water Street is to be completed by Aug. 26. All work is expected water treatment plant. to be complete in November. The system upgrade and expansion Shelburne Mayor Al Delaney called the tripled the capacity of the treatment plant, project a great step forward for the town. which can now produce 450 gallons of “I am very excited about this project,” water per minute, up from 150 gallons. he said. Currently, only 12 per cent of the town Although, some grumbling is expected is serviced by the Lake Rodney water treat - when the noise, dust and traffic delays re - ment plant. sult this spring and summer from the con - Residents will not be required to hook struction, Mayor Delaney note that some up to the waterline, but Mayor Delaney temporary inconveniences had to be ex - says many are anxiously awaiting the op - pected for the sake of progress. portunity, including the Northwood Construction is underway in Shelburne, Nova Scotia on the $2-million (plus) extension of the town’s waterline. (Photo: Greg Bennett/The Coast Guard) Funding for the project will come from housing unit on Mowatt Street. Berwick's big sewer job gets bigger BY SARA KEDDY lump it,” chief administrative officer Bob Ashley said. all at once and hope a $50,000 contingency fund won’t “I never get overexcited over underground storm “We need to wrestle with this problem.” be needed. KINGS COUNTY ADVERTISER REGISTER sewers, but this is a project that has a lot of impact in Berwick applied and received $504,000 from the “It does mean we may have to juggle funding of the other areas,” Councillor Mike Trinacty said. “There’s n anticipated $756,000 job in Berwick (Nova Building Canada Fund for the project—based on two- projects in year two and six…. Early indications are Scotia) to replace storm sewer and sewer lines, thirds of the $756,000 budget plus add-on work we will receive (additional revenue as the gas tax fund the northern gateway, drainage, the sidewalk to the Aadd a median on Commercial Street in front through 2011. Ashley said he’s asked if there was any is being extended). This provides sufficient funding fire hall. I hope the public takes notice of this project, of the fire hall, a bike path from Main Street to the room left to increase the federal share, but learned for us to make up the difference,” Ashley said. especially with what they will see on the top.” Cornwallis River bridge and repave the works, came in there is no more money. “Stacking” the gas tax allocations is allowed, he con - MacLean said there is no question people are going with a big-time price after tender. Ashley and financial officer Mike MacLean re - tinued, as long as council approves the budgeting to notice the work: when it gets underway—and there Council June 8 considered what to do with the re - viewed the options for council: take on more town changes in its capital improvement plan. sults of the May 20 tender call: six bids came in, rang - debt, not desirable based on the recent 10-year capi - On the positive side, it means work at the entrance is no timeline, other than a summer start and work ing in price from $1.2 million to $1.8 million. tal improvement plan budgeting; or use some of the to town will be completed earlier, rather than wrap up continuing for months—Commercial Street will be a “Six bids shows us this is the market—like it or federal gas tax returns from multiple years’ budgeting in 2012. major construction zone.
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BY MICHAEL GORMAN Langille said leakage is so bad in some parts of the BY MITCHELL MACDONALD dle of the Second World War. old line that one private property was revealed to be THE VANGUARD THE GUARDIAN “When I look at my bill today, it’s the same month loosing 130,000 gallons of treated water a month. and the price for water and sewer is $479.” ustomers of the Yarmouth Water Utility will “You have to treat water like the precious com - ost people probably wouldn’t mind paying a Adjusting for inflation, $3.75 in 1943 would be have until the end of September to hook up to modity that it is,” said Councillor Neil MacKenzie, not - $1 late charge for their water bill, especially $49.26 in 2010. McInnis pays almost 10 times more the new water line or they will lose water serv - ing the high quality of the utility’s treated water. “It C Mif the bill itself was $3.75. for water now than he would have 67 years ago. ice. really is money going down the drain.” That’s what Charlottetown (Prince Edward Island) McInnis, a water commissioner for Charlottetown The Nova Scotia Utility Review Board recently There was some concern expressed about the pos - residents paid in 1943, Ken McInnis of Ambrose Street (June) granted the Yarmouth Water Utility a rate in - sible hardship of forcing customers to transition to the found out while doing some renovations not long ago. in 1992, said the price change shows how water is a crease, but that increase came with the requirement newer line, however Langille said staff would work “I was just doing a little work out in my kitchen, precious resource often not thought about and taken that steps be taken to address major leakage problems. with the remaining customers to find a way to make painting and replacing a piece of wainscot and I found for granted. In some cases as much as 50 per cent of the water being the transition as easy as possible. this bill sort of tucked in beneath,” he said. “It’s something you use every day. You get up in the pumped from Lake George was found to be lost to Customers could also abandon the service and opt When he looked closer, McInnis said he realized it morning and brush your teeth or have a shower and leaks. was a water bill for his house dating back to the mid - don’t even think about it.” During Thursday’s (June 10) utility meeting, to dig a well. The utility is prevented by law from ab - Yarmouth town councillors learned that much of the sorbing the cost of the new hookups. leakage could be solved by abandoning crumbling wa - Langille said the deadline to switch, which was set at terlines in South Ohio and North Ohio, some of which Sept. 30, 2010 to beat the first frost, is necessary be - Storm sewer project underway are as old as 120 years, and getting the 18-20 customers cause some customers aren’t taking steps to switch and the utility must be proactive in addressing the leakage. still using the old lines to hook up with the newer ones. manholes. To do otherwise, said Langille, would be irrespon - BY STAFF “In order for us to solve this problem we literally It takes about two weeks of work per block to in - have to shut off the line,” said Councillor Ken Langille, sible in the face of the rate increase, which is intended THE NEW GLASGOW DAILY NEWS stall the pipe and the project should be complete in chairman of the water utility. to repair and reduce leakage. [New Glasgow, NS]—If you're wondering what 12 to 15 weeks. the excavators, big black pipes and concrete struc - "It's big pipe and big manholes. It's going to take tures are doing in the area of Glasgow Square – a little time and patience." Stormwater fee legislation wonder no longer. Not to worry though, you'll still be able to rock enator Ben Cardin introduced legislation in Cardin’s legislation was in response to action taken They are all in place for the storm sewer project out at the Jubilee. that's going to stretch from the East River up Washington DC June 10 that fees for abatement by the General Services Administration in April when "It will have no impact on the Jubilee," he said. MacLean Street (New Glasgow, Nova Scotia). He did say that an area of parking lot in front of Sand control of water pollution should not be re - it declared that the local municipal sewer authority’s garded as a tax. Project engineer Bob Funke said (May 25) the H & R Music will be closed for a period of time due charges to federal buildings in Washington DC were project will "eliminate a significant amount of storm The Maryland Democrat said that under the Clean to construction. sewer from entering the sanitary sewer." Water Act (Section 313), federal agencies should be unconstitutional because they taxed the federal gov - Funke said digging will likely begin on Friday Funke said the pipes are 36 inches in diameter responsible for paying the fees including those for ernment. (May 28). and the pre-cast concrete structures are the actual stormwater management services that local utilities Cardin’s legislation is supported by the National "We work with the tides," he added. provide. Association of Clean water Agencies (NACWA).
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www.sansom.ca [email protected] PAGE 12 NEWS Maritime Provinces Water & Wastewater Report APRIL 2010 MPWWA members raise $2952 for Community Autism Centre Inc.
uring the 2010 annual Maritime Provinces Water and Wastewater DAssociation (MPPWA) confer - ence, held this year in Saint John, New Brunswick, a Silent Auction was held to benefit the Community Autism Centre Inc. (CACI) located in Saint John. MPWWA executive members ob - tained donations for this event and sup - pliers attending the conference furnished additional items. The auction ran for a day-and-a-half during the conference and bids poured in fast and furious. The coordinators of the auction, Leo Hynes, Alan and Holly Benninger, ensured that the bidding and payment processes flowed very smoothly. Association members bid ag - gressively to get the items that they cov - eted. Once the auction was completed and the monies had been tallied up, MPWWA members had raised $2952.00. This amount coupled with monetary donations from Transcontinental Spe - cialty Publications, the stay ‘til the end luncheon draw winner and Greatario Engineered Storage Systems, enabled the MPWWA and its membership to turn over a cheque in the amount of $ 3365.00 to the Community Autism Centre Inc (CACI). This cheque was presented to Debbie MacDonald, the executive direc - tor of CACI, at the stay ‘til the end lunch - eon. Special thanks go out to all that par - A Silent Auction to benefit the Community Autism Centre Inc. (CACI) was held during the 2010 annual Maritime Provinces Water and Wastewater Association conference in Saint John, New ticipated to make this auction such a Brunswick. Through the auction, MPWWA members raised $2952 for the CACI. In the photo CACI Executive Director Deb MacDonald holds the cheque along with MPWWA treasurer Leo Hynes, great success. and 2010 MPWWA Conference Chair Rob Hamilton.