SPC to consider request for treatment plant design projects

The Economic and Finance Standing Policy Committee of Lethbridge city council on Thursday will hear a request to amend the 2022-31 Capital Improvement Program to add detailed design projects for capacity expansions at the water treatment plant.

The SPC consists of all members of city council.

A report prepared by Infrastructure Services Director Joel Sanchez to be submitted by Water and Wastewater Services general manager Doug Kaupp says the projects will be funded through the Canada Community Building Fund, which was formerly known as the Federal Gas Tax Fund, and utility capital reserves and won’t have any impact on utility rates.

One project is for Wastewater Treatment Plant process and electrical upgrades and the other for a detailed design of water treatment plant expansion.

The first project will include “waste activated sludge thickening upgrades, electrical upgrades, aeration and secondary clarifier upgrades, and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection upgrades included in Phase I. This project will also provide preliminary design engineering services for secondary treatment upgrades, digester upgrades, outfall, lagoon upgrades, and flood mitigation at the WWTP included in Phase II,” says a presentation to be made to the SPC.

The second project “will provide detailed design engineering for an expansion at the Water Treatment Plant (WTP), increasing treated water capacity to 180 million litres per day” and will also provide preliminary engineering services for a future expansion to 250 million litres per day.

“On peak days, water and wastewater demands exceed 90% of the design capacity of the systems. In anticipation of near-term industrial and regional growth, expansion plans have been proposed with project approval pending further exploration of funding options,” says the submission.

Water demand exceeding system capacity could result in a need for the City to impose residential water restrictions and the risk of the City being unable to meet industrial demands and maintain stored water volumes for firefighting events, says the submission.

“Wastewater demand exceeding the treatment plant capacity can result in the WWTP failing to meet regulatory limits with negative environmental consequences. If the wastewater conveyance system is unable move the volume of wastewater this can cause sewer backups and the release of raw wastewater to the environment,” it adds.

The SPC will meet in council chambers on Thursday at 1:30 p.m.