February 6, 2012

Ottawa city budget proposes $13.6 million in capital spending on wastewater treatment plant

The City of Ottawa environment committee has received a staff-proposed rate-supported budget for water and wastewater that includes several construction projects at the Robert O. Pickard Environmental Centre.

The draft rate-supported budget was tabled last week by the environment committee of City Council, which is scheduled to vote on it later in February.

The total recommended capital budget for water and wastewater is $389.859 million, of which $257.956 million is rate-supported. Of that, $208.859 million is for the “Ottawa on the move” plan.

The draft budget calls for total capital spending on the Robert O. Pickard Environmental Centre (ROPEC) alone in 2012 of $13.6 million. It would include $9 million in treatment plant upgrades and $3.6 million in building upgrades, including roofing repairs. It also includes $4 million for sewage digester repairs and $4 million for primary treatment sluice gate and concrete structural repairs.

Other big-ticket items in the water and wastewater capital budget include $5.9 million in upgrades at the city’s two water treatment facilities, including valve and meter replacements, mechanical and electrical rehabilitation associated with the filter reconstruction, pilot plant work and chemical tank replacement and rehabilitation.

The budget also includes $23.685 million for flood mitigation measures on the west end. Those projects were identified in an investigation by the city after a rain storm July, 24,2009 which resulted in basement flooding, road flooding and washout of drainage culverts. Projects would include improvements to the Glen Cairn storm drainage system, the Hazeldean pumping station, the Vanstone area drainage and the Stittsvile overland flow.

DCN DIGITAL MEDIA

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