VOLUME 15 / NUMBER 4 $3 OCTOBER 2008 PM# 40064924 NOTE FROM THE CHAIR Andrew Garnett • Chair of the MPWWA ell fall is here and we can see the Wbusiest part of the construction season behind us. With things generally slowing down this time of year, you should start to see a number of work - shops in your area. Take advantage of these workshops as they will make you a better water and/or wastewater oper - ator. If there is any training that you feel Photo courtesy of Communications New Brunswick you or your co-workers would like to The ceremony was attended by: Fundy Royal MP Rob Moore; Minister of Social Development Mary Schryer; mayor Murray Driscoll; Saint John East MLA Roly MacIntyre. have please let us know so we can try to accommodate this. As the importance of CEUs and certification becomes First provincial gas-tax project completed in Quispamsis more relevant to what we do, it is vital that we assist in this. On September 5, a ceremony marked the comple - “Today's milestone is a celebration for the Town of stall 1,250 linear metres of water distribution main. The MPWWA has recently hired a new registrar. Her name is Clara Shea tion of a water tower and associated distribution sys - Quispamsis,” said Social Services Minister Mary The system will provide fire protection and increase and she will be of great benefit to us as tem in Quispamsis — the first project in New Schryer. “Renewing and maintaining community in - water distribution to commercial, institutional and her experience in this field is tremen - Brunswick announced under a federal-provincial gas frastructure is important for our government to at - residential customers in the Market Street, Millen - dous. We look forward to working with tax fund (GTF) agreement. tain self-sufficiency as a province. It is crucial to nium Drive and Autumn Avenue areas, up to and her as we move forward in creating a Under the Canada-New Brunswick Agreement on continue co-operating with our federal counterparts including the Hampton Road. It will permit expan - stronger association. I’m sure she will the Transfer of Federal Gas Tax Revenues and the to enable New Brunswick municipalities such as sion in accordance with the town's municipal de - bring her own flair to the table. The Maritime Provinces Water & Provincial Gas Tax Transfer Top-up Fund, Quispam - Quispamsis to respond to their infrastructure needs.” velopment plan. The development will address Wastewater Report (MPWWR) is a sis will receive $2,803,280 by 2010. The Town of Quis - Funding has been used to construct a 2,270,000- environmental concerns. great way to show everyone what your pamsis also contributed $50,000, for an estimated litre (500,000-gallon) elevated composite water municipality has been doing. If you total project cost of $2,853,280. storage reservoir on Millennium Drive and to in - Continued on page 2 have an upcoming event or project, let your zone rep know so that they can get in touch with the publication’s editor. INDEX: E The news could be as simple as replac - R ing a hydrant or sanitary manhole. New Registrar ............................ 3 E Every project counts. SCADA Project ............................ 4 H I wish you all the very best in the fu - MPWWA Profile .......................... L 5 E ture, and please don’t forget to work Tyne Valley ................................. 7 B safe. Brooklyn .................................... A 8 L Water Resource Strategy ........... 9 S Andrew Garnett Penobsquis .............................. S 10 E Chair of the MPWWA Bottled Water Ban ..................... 11 R Major Investments .................... 14 D Wagmatcook Project .......... 15-16 D A PAGE 2 NEWS Maritime Provinces Water & Wastewater Report OCTOBER 2008 OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MPWWA TRAINING COURSES Oct. 29-30: Electrical Workshop Module 2, Holland Col - lege, PEI - earn 1.2 CEUs Oct. 15: Operational Best Practices (SOPs), Antigonish, Nov. 18: Operational Best Practices (SOPs), Windsor, NS NS - earn 0.5 CEUs - earn 0.5 CEUs Oct. 23-24: Electrical Workshop Module 1, Holland Col - Nov. 27-28: Wastewater Treatment Basics, Cornwall, lege, PEI - earn 1.2 CEUs PEI - earn 1.2 CEUs Oct. 27: Computer Course for Operators, Windsor, NS - For further information, watch for the upcoming mail- earn 0.6 CEUs out, check the MPWWA website (www.mpwwa.ca), OR contact Todd Richard, MPWWA training chair, at (902) Oct. 28: Basic Math Course, Windsor, NS - earn 0.6 CEUs 798-8000 or [email protected] Bridgetown adopts new sewer rate Photo courtesy of Communications New Brunswick BY LAWRENCE POWELL don't pay property tax. Inside the new water tower: Town administrator Michael Brennan; Quispamsis mayor Murray Driscoll; Minister of So - The sewer rate was not designed to be revenue cial Development Mary Schryer; utility superintendent Chris Vriezen; Fundy Royal MP Rob Moore; director of engi - THE SPECTATOR neutral because of pending new infrastructure re - neering and works Gary Losier. TRANSCONTINENTAL MEDIA quirements. ridgetown property owners hooked into the Bridgetown is hiring an engineering firm this First provincial gas-tax project town's sewer system will be getting a bill in year to complete a study of the existing waste - Bthe mail come November, but they'll also be water facility and will receive recommendations getting a break on their property tax bills. Continued from page 1 tem, which were greatly needed.” for future upgrading and expansion required to Council passed a motion on September 29 that New Brunswick communities will receive $116.1 comply with new provincial standards for treat - puts the new sewer charge into effect and puts “The completion of this new water tower marks an million from the GTF from 2005 to 2010, to which the ment and distribution. Bridgetown in line with common practice among important milestone in the improvement of New Government of New Brunswick will add $30 million. The town anticipates federal and provincial most other municipalities in Nova Scotia with a Brunswick water infrastructure,” said Fundy Royal MP Following the 2007 federal budget, a further $178.5 funding for costs associated with the project but property tax rate that is more directly comparable Rob Moore. “Clean, safe drinking water will have a million in GTF will be given New Brunswick com - figures it will have to borrow the remaining one- with other self-governing communities. positive impact on the residents of Quispamsis and munities from 2010 to 2014, for a total of $294.6 mil - In a recent information sheet distributed to res - third. the environment. This is an example of our commit - lion in federal funding over nine years. idents, council said that by allocating costs to the The new sewer rate includes a base rate of ment to Canada's infrastructure.” In December 2007, the governments of Canada and actual users of the sewer system it removes the $52.08 for annual infrastructure recovery costs, To receive its first payment under the GTF, the New Brunswick announced the signing of the Build - costs from the taxpayers who don't have access to plus a usage rate of $1.66 per cubic metre of water Town of Quispamsis submitted a five-year capital in - ing Canada Framework Agreement. With this agree - sewer services. used. The formula links the sewer charges to the vestment plan for review by the province. It then ment, the Government of Canada committed to an “By removing the costs from the general tax amount of water a home or business uses because, signed an agreement with the Department of Local investment of more than $541 million towards infra - rate, we now have room to create a substantial re - ultimately, the water used will end up in the Government to implement the plan. structure needs in New Brunswick from 2007 to 2014, duction in both the residential and commercial sewage system. “The Town of Quispamsis is grateful for this fund - including the gas tax funding. In addition, in Budget tax rates,” residents were told. “This year our res - While some property owners may end up pay - ing received under the GTF,” said mayor of Quispam - 2008, the Government of Canada announced that the idential rate will drop by 13 cents and our com - ing more overall with the new rate, some will end sis Murray Driscoll.“Without this financial support, it gas tax fund will become permanent from 2014, at $2 mercial rate by five cents.” up paying considerably less, all depending on how would have been difficult for us to proceed with the billion annually for provinces and territories. This will Several residents were on hand for the Monday much water they use. construction of the water tower and distribution sys - facilitate long-term planning by municipalities. night meeting and asked for clarification on sev - Councillors stressed the importance of water eral points, including: the effect on renters who conservation and noted those who conserve will won't get the tax break, the fact that the rate will benefit from lower water and sewer bills. be based on the previous year's water consump - “By basing the sewer usage rate on the previous tion, and the unknown status of the new sewer year’s water consumption, we are providing an 9 charge — revenue neutral or not. The timing of opportunity for each property owner to reduce 7 0 Comprehensive Process Optimization, Inc. 9 the first bills in November was also questioned by their costs through water conservation practices,” 7 9 760 Brant Street, Suite 32, Burlington, ON L7R 4B7 2 resident Lewis Falls who said that's also the time residents were told. “Conservation of our water David Chapman, President Tel: (905) 634-1143 of year people have trouble paying for heat and resources must be a top priority.