Town anticipating federal funding for water treatment

The federal government portion of funding for better water in the Town of Pictou is close to being approved.

Town staff told councillors Monday that a date soon take place when the federal government will sign off on $1.6 million for a new water treatment plant while the provincial money of $1.6 million is expected to follow shortly thereafter.

The Town of Pictou will need to put up the other $1.6 million, which could be covered under the capital projects of a new amalgamated government capital plan. The MOU agreement has a $69 million capital plan that will address infrastructure projects over the next five years. If the amalgamation doesn’t happen, town staff said the town will be on hook for its $1.6 million which will probably be paid through long-term borrowing.

A $5 million water treatment plant to be built in town will take care of high manganese and iron levels as well as low water pressure. It is the second of a two-phase upgrade for water in the town. This phase involves designing and constructing a centralized water treatment plant to remove concentrations of iron and manganese from the town’s water supply. Reduction chambers and boosting stations will also be installed in the distribution system to balance pressure during periods of peak demand.

Pictou’s existing water distribution system draws directly from groundwater wells that contain high levels of naturally occurring iron and manganese. Due to low water pressure of the town’s distribution system and the reaction of iron and manganese with chlorine disinfectants, these contaminants have settled and accumulated in the water distribution pipes. The project will significantly improve the treatment and distribution of drinking water for Pictou’s residents and businesses.