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Construction to begin on $27M plant expansion

June 17, 2015   ·   0 Comments

Construction is about to start on one of Orangeville’s largest infrastructure projects, the $27-million expansion and upgrade of Orangeville’s Water Pollution Control Plant.

Orangeville Council recently awarded the contract for the project to North American Construction Ltd. of Hamilton, with engineering services to be provided by RJ Burnside & Associates Limited of Orangeville.

It is anticipated that the project will take about three years. The expansion will involve construction of a number of new tanks, buildings, yard piping and electrical works, and will also include demolition of some small buildings and installation of shoring materials on the property at 16 Townline.

“This project represents a huge investment in our Town’s future,” said Mayor Jeremy D Williams. “Orangeville was among the first municipalities in Canada to have its own sewage plant back in 1929; this builds on that legacy of care for our environment.”

Mayor Williams said the expansion will not just provide for the future, it will provide jobs and help grow Orangeville’s economy right now. “This project is fundamental to keep our rivers clean and to allow future controlled growth in our community. Although the magnitude of the work to be done is enormous, I have complete confidence our staff will bring this project to completion within budget and on time.”

Over 80 percent of the current Water Pollution Control Plant treatment capacity is being used or has already been allocated to development. The hydraulic capacity of the expanded facility will be 17,500 cubic metres a day — an increase of 21.5 percent over the existing hydraulic capacity of 14,400. This additional capacity will service all of the remaining undeveloped land within the Town’s existing municipal boundary.

The Water Pollution Control Plant treats raw sewage so that the wastewater ultimately being discharged to the Credit River meets stringent water quality criteria (as defined by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change in the plant’s Environmental Compliance Approval) to protect and preserve the natural environment for aquatic life and recreational use.

It was back in 2001 that the Town and its consultant began work on the Long Term Servicing Strategy for water supply and sewage treatment which found that an expansion of the plant would be required to service the remaining undeveloped lands within the Town’s current municipal boundary. The Water Pollution Control Plant expansion project received Environmental Assessment Act approval in March of 2011. Detailed design work followed.

The total estimated cost of the Water Pollution Control Plant expansion and upgrades project is $27,500,000 of which $20,800,000 will be funded from development charges and $6,700,000 by wastewater rates.

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