Duane Hicks
Due to the infiltration of groundwater into the aged piping system, and to an extent the continued use of sump pumps in summer, the town continues to treat far more water than it should have to.
In an activity report from Operations and Facilities executive committee chair Coun. Paul Ryan at last night’s council meeting, he noted the town treated and discharged 1,029,316 cubic metres of wastewater in the past five months—an increase of 16 percent compared to the same period in 2015.
When comparing the treated water discharged from the sewage treatment plant to the manufactured water from the water treatment plant, there is a difference of 457,576 cubic metres of groundwater/surface water entering the sanitary sewer system.
In simplest terms, this means more water is entering the sanitary sewer system than the town manufactures.
The town is continuing to replace its piping each year with infrastructure projects like the reconstruction of Colonization Road East.
But residents can do their part immediately to help reduce the volume by inspecting their sump pump system to ensure it is not discharging directly into the sanitary sewer system, said Coun. Ryan.
“Your sump pump water (groundwater) should be discharged onto your property, then travel along the ground onto the roadway and eventually discharge into the storm sewer system along the roadway and not into the sanitary sewer system,” he explained.
“This groundwater doesn’t have to be treated at the sewage treatment plant.
“Please do your part by alleviating any groundwater or surface water discharging into the sanitary sewer system,” Coun. Ryan added.
In related news, Kingdom Construction Ltd. has been on-site at the sewage treatment plant removing and replacing the biosolids de-watering systems and screen equipment at the plant.
The upgrades, which should be done by November, will allow the town to remove more water from its sludge (biosolids) and dispose of it at the landfill.
Coun. Ryan also noted the Operations and Facilities executive committee would like the public’s co-operation to ensure the trees and hedges on their property, which are parallel to the town’s sidewalks, are trimmed back to ensure all impediments are no closer than six inches (150 mm) from the back edge of the sidewalk.
This will ensure all citizens can walk safely and comfortably on the town’s sidewalks.
