The City of Morden is at long last moving ahead with a wastewater treatment project after years of challenges and delays.
The plan is being set out after extensive consultation and technical review of different treatment options with the Manitoba Water Services Board and leading engineering firms.
The city touted their plan as being an innovative aerated lagoon wastewater treatment system that will operate in conjunction with a tertiary biological treatment process.
Mayor Nancy Penner was relieved to be able to move ahead with the project.
“It has been a long road,” she said. “I think sometimes the community felt we weren’t doing much on the wastewater project. At times, we had to sort of keep the information close to our chest just because of the way that things were unfolding.
“We as council are so excited to finally have a path forward,” the mayor said. “Until we go to design and until we go to tender now, it is kind of an unknown as far as what the final dollars will be … but the longer we wait, it’s not going to get any cheaper.
“I thank the citizens of Morden for their patience.”
The estimate for total eligible costs for the project is $93.5 million excluding the land cost, which is ineligible for funding. The city has secured $19.8 million in funding under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program and $19 million in additional provincial funding.
The city has applied for additional funding under the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund for $26.6 million and is waiting for approval. The remaining portion will need to be funded by the city through borrowing.
City council says the proposed system is designed to meet the stringent effluent criteria for nitrogen and phosphorus removal, providing an efficient and sustainable solution to meet the needs and circumstances of the community up to a population of 20,300.
The treatment lagoon cells will be covered with floating insulated covers to minimize the heat loss and odor emissions. To support this project, Morden has secured an option to purchase 80 acres of land adjacent to the community’s existing lagoon site for the construction and future expansion of the new system.
“Securing that 80 acres was the last piece of the puzzle that we needed to go forward with it … everything else fell into place,” said Penner.
She gave credit to city staff for coming forward with the new design that would require less land to make it happen.
“This new system, by incorporating our existing cells … we’ll use them for holding treated water, that will help with the odour issue because those cells will hold the treated water.”
It will be significantly less cost compared to a full blown mechanical treatment plant, which clearly had been a feasible option.
“And for future growth, we have the room to expand,” added Penner, who estimated this project could them sufficient capacity at least to the year 2047 based on an average growth prediction of about three per cent per year.
Penner said this plan will now help ensure that Morden can continue to move forward as one of Manitoba’s fastest-growing communities, whereas development was restricted without wastewater treatment in place.
“We can continue on developing our industrial park, so investors know that soon we will be open for business, and our builders know that we have a path forward and they can start their planning.”
And she feels confident the plan will sufficiently address a key concern for many residents: the odour from the lagoon.
“I don’t know if you can ever get a 100 per cent guarantee that there will be no odour … it will help negate the odour,” she said.
“We’re confident. This treatment system has been used in northern climates,” she said, adding they have worked closely with Manitoba Water Services Board to ensure it is feasible. “They haven’t raised any red flags.”
Next steps will include getting a conditional use from the RM of Stanley since the 80 acres of land is just outside of the City of Morden boundary. The project will then need environmental approval.
“We’re hoping we don’t run into any major delays,” said Penner, who noted some of the funding commitments are in place, but they are also pursuing other funding options as well. “We will work hard to lobby both levels of government to let our community grow … they need to be aware of how important local economies are.”
An open house on the project will be scheduled later this year.
