When the new Wastewater Treatment Plant opens, citizens will know their wastewater is being treated to some of the highest standards in the province. Soon visitors to Selkirk Park will have those same standards.
Construction has started on the Selkirk Park Lift Station, which will pump wastewater from Selkirk Park to the new state-of-the-art Wastewater Treatment Plant. This includes wastewater from the campground, the pool, and other restroom facilities.
“Trucks are there now, and workers are beginning to build the new lift station. We’ll then be laying pipe in Selkirk Park that will connect to the new Wastewater Treatment Plant system,” said the city’s Director of Operations Dan McDermid.
Significant upgrade surpasses provincial regulations
The project is in line with the city’s Strategic Plan, calling for the city to be environmental stewards by improving city practices and services, and encouraging more environmentally responsible development.
“The park had been serviced by a lagoon treatment system for the past 60 years or so. Not only does this not meet the standards of today, it comes no where near the standards we hold ourselves to,” said McDermid.
“If this was left the way it is, we wouldn’t be able to open the things our citizens have come to expect like the campground, the Selkirk Park Pool + Splashpad, or any of the restrooms in the future until this was changed.”
The city’s Chief Administrative Officer Duane Nicol says the new Wastewater Treatment Plan will go far and beyond the provincial regulations of today.
“Wastewater standards will only get tighter. When they do, the new treatment plant will still likely meet the standards without costly retrofits or new construction,” said Nicol.
Investing today, for tomorrow’s needs
While the new Wastewater Treatment Plant is looking ahead for the future, so is the new lift station at Selkirk Park.
“We’re not sure what kind of expansion will happen in Selkirk Park in twenty years, so we’re upgrading the capacity of the sewer system now while we do this work,” said Nicol.
“In the future if council decides to expand the campground or add some sort of facility, they will have the proper sewage system already in place.”
The project was budgeted in the 2020 Financial Plan and will cost $735,585, with money coming from the water utility reserves. The project is expected to wrap-up around the new year.
Cambrian Excavators will be undertaking the project having successfully won a competitive procurement process last summer.
During construction there will be interruptions to park access and temporary closures to both park roads and amenities. While every effort will be made not to interrupt the Boat Launch, users may also see interruptions.
For your safety, the city asks that citizens please stay clear of equipment and construction sites.
