City of Powell River council voted unanimously at its meeting on Thursday, October 6, to submit an amendment to the Ministry of Environment to again include Tla’amin Nation in its liquid waste-management plan and proposed wastewater treatment facility.
“There is a lot of work ahead of us before the two councils have enough information to make formal decisions to interconnect their sewer systems,” said city chief administrative officer Mac Fraser. “This includes detailed cost estimates and ongoing operating arrangements.”
The city’s plan previously included a provision to accept Tla’amin’s sewage. Tla’amin then notified the city it would pursue constructing its own standalone treatment plant and city council voted in February 2015 to remove the provision.
On June 3, the city received word from the province that its proposed wastewater treatment plant in Townsite was given conditional approval. Meanwhile, Tla’amin hegus Clint Williams said the nation discovered building a standalone treatment plant would cost approximately $10 million.
“Early on, we were part of the city’s plan, but it would be a long, involved process that was going to drag on for years and years, so we pulled back from that and pursued the standalone system,” said Williams. “This new timeframe is a lot more friendly, so it would be a quicker fix for us.”
At its Tuesday, October 4, committee of the whole meeting, council received a report from city director of infrastructure Tor Birtig, including comments from Fraser, stating the Powell River region “would benefit environmentally if the city and Tla’amin decide to connect the systems as four outfalls would be reduced to one.”
The proposed consolidated plant will use the current Townsite outfall for all of the city’s wastewater. Currently, there are outfalls in Westview, Townsite, Wildwood and Tla’amin.
Fraser said the city is also looking at including Tla’amin in its current wastewater system as early as 18 months from now, which would involve running sewer pipes from Tla’amin into the current Townsite treatment plant below the old golf course.
“This would be for the interim as we work to revamp our entire system,” said Fraser.
Mayor Dave Formosa said running sewer lines from Tla’amin would also be a good opportunity to put in fresh water lines for the nation.
“There are funds available to get their water and wastewater under control and it would be good to tee it up and do it at the same time,” said Formosa.
Fraser said both the city and Tla’amin will benefit from sharing the wastewater treatment plant as there would be less operating costs for Tla’amin than building a standalone plant, and the city’s costs would also decrease for ratepayers.
“Details still need to be figured out, but the thought is Tla’amin will pay a percentage of operating costs, rather than 100 per cent of a small standalone,” said Fraser. “With the extra 1,000 or so users from Tla’amin, our portion of the costs would be less.”
Councillor Karen Skadsheim, chair of the city’s liquid-waste-management steering committee, said including Tla’amin in the plan is beneficial to all parties involved.
“It’s a win-win-win situation,” said Skadsheim. “I really can’t see any downside for anybody.”
Williams said a representative from Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada will meet with the nation the week of October 10 to receive introductory information on the city’s wastewater facility. Under Tla’amin’s treaty, the federal government is responsible for providing suitable water treatment for the nation.
“We’re hoping that it’s agreeable with the funders,” said Williams. “With this option being cheaper, we’re hoping they will see the benefits of it.”
Fraser said the hope is that including Tla’amin will be at no cost to the city. Sewer lines to the existing treatment plant would be 100 per cent compatible with the new treatment plant, said Fraser, and the only thing needed to tap into the system later would be a short stretch of pipe.
Fraser said lines from Tla’amin would most likely run up over Gibsons Beach hill and along Highway 101.
“Generally, municipalities like to run utilities down public right-of-ways,” said Fraser. “Details are to be determined, but generally projects like this follow roads.”
Williams said the timing is perfect for a phased approach and temporary hookup to the city’s existing wastewater system. He also pointed out that Tla’amin’s current wastewater system, like Powell River’s, is overdue for an upgrade.
“We have troubles periodically,” said Williams. “For the most part it’s satisfactory, but as soon as there is a hiccup, there’s trouble and when there’s trouble, raw sewage flows into the river or the ocean, and we don’t ever like to see that happen.”
