City Council has approved the recommended communication upgrades to Vault #9, which will allow for regulatory reports and for the city to monitor for leaks and failures in the pipeline. The total cost of the project is $61, 850, which is coming from $35, 000 being carried over from last years budget and $30, 000 being allocated for it in this years budget.
The vault flooded in 2011 and all equipment and communications were lost.
“It’s to that point where it feels very urgent to get it fixed. When it comes to wastewater, that’s one of the issues the city needs to supply and be responsible for,” says Mayor Gerald Aalbers.
The Saskatchewan Water Security Agency requires the city to report of volumes of treated liquid waste in to the North Saskatchewan River. Vault #9 is further up the line near the river and is important to be able to send accurate reports.
Mayor Aalbers says, “our City will do what we can do to ensure we stay compliant within the provincial regulations. I send that message very clearly to both our residents, because we have a responsibility first to our residents, they’ve elected us and we’re here to represent them.”
He adds that their second responsibility is to meet the requirements set out by the province.
The Wastewater Treatment Plant itself still needs to be replaced. However, that project will cost $80 million. In the time being the city is going ahead with desludging of the lagoon to try and meet the requirements set out by the WSA.