$22 million needed to upgrade water treatment system in Barrhead

BARRHEAD -  The Town of Barrhead is facing a $22 million bill to upgrade its water treatment system, specifically its wastewater lagoons.

That is what corporate services director Jennifer Mantay told councillors during their Nov. 12 meeting.

She noted that chief administrative officer Edward LeBlanc had filled in council during an Oct. 22 in-camera session about the municipality's challenges in upgrading its wastewater lagoons to meet new provincial standards.

Later in the meeting, councillors approved administration's recommendation to apply for an Alberta Municipal Water/Wastewater Partnership (AMWWP) grant to offset the project's cost.

The AMWWP, launched in 1991, provides cost-shared funding to eligible municipalities to help build municipal facilities for water supply, treatment, and wastewater treatment and disposal.

"That is the first step," she said, adding the municipality's engineering firm would make the application on the town's behalf. "Nothing will happen until we learn if we get grant funding."

Mantay added that, depending on how much they receive, councillors will have to have further conversations about funding the rest of the project.

Coun. Rod Klumph asked how much the municipality would apply for.

Mantay replied that the estimated cost of the upgrades is $22 million, reiterating that the town's engineering firm would make the application on their behalf.

"Initially, our engineers said there were two grant programs available, but now they are saying that [AMWWP] is the only one available," she said. "In the end, council may be forced to go to [Alberta Environment and Protected Areas or AEP] and ask where the [municipality] is supposed to get the rest of the money."

Mantay said their engineering firm said they would apply for a $7 million AMWWP grant.

However, she said that was when the engineering firm believed other granting sources were available.

"Now, they may apply for the entire $22 million, but they told us the grant was 'very' over-applied for," Mantay said. "So, I don't know if we will get any money. At that point, it will be up to the council to decide how to proceed, as Alberta is telling us Environment that we need to do this. But if we don't have the money, we are stuck."

Mayor Dave McKenzie added that the municipality would need to take additional steps regardless of whether it successfully got the AMWWP grant. He did not elaborate on what those potential steps might be.

Klumph interjected, asking if any federal monies were available.

Mantey said probably but noted the municipality is relying on the expertise of its engineering firm.

"This is the one they are pushing," she said, adding that the application deadline is Nov. 30.

Coun. Don Smith asked if the upgrades are something the Barrhead Regional Water Commission (BRWC) should contribute to, adding that the body contributes funding to wastewater management.

The BRWC is an independent body comprised of members of the Barrhead municipalities. The commission owns the region's water infrastructure, pipelines, and treatment plant. It sells the water to the municipalities, which, in turn, resell it to their residents.

McKenzie said no, "This has more to do with quality levels. [Alberta Environment and Protection] have made some adjustments [to the target levels that municipalities must achieve], and we will have to upgrade our equipment to meet them."

Later in the meeting, Klumph said he believed the commission could play a role.

He said that, at the ABMunis conference, he discussed the issue with an engineer who suggested that the water commission install a filtering system to reduce the amount of sludge entering the town's lagoons.

But, Klumph told him the system would not come cheap, saying it was in the millions.

Coun. Dave Sawatzky asked if their engineering firm was looking into green alternatives.

"Is there something more leading edge that could be beneficial?" he asked.

Mantay said she did not believe so.

She added she had "sat" in on meetings with the town's engineering firm.

"It's not my speciality, but as I understand it, the [$22 million solution] is one of the cheaper methods to fix the problem."

Smith asked if there was a deadline for when the work needed to be completed.

Mantay did not believe so.

"[The province] seems flexible, as long as there is a plan," she said.

Smith then said the municipality's next step should be to talk to the province.

"If the province is asking us for better numbers, then the province needs to step up to the plate. Municipalities don't have millions in their back pockets," he said. "That is one of the first conversations we must have with them. Where do you expect municipalities to come up with the money to meet your targets?"

Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com