City council has agreed to commit $3.6 million towards Phase 1 of the Wastewater Treatment Facility Upgrade Project and apply for funding from the Canada Infrastructure Program to cover the other $9.9 million needed.
“Completing Phase 1 of the project will increase the capacity to treat wastewater, increase the quality of effluent discharged and will be a significant upgrade to the current system,” reads the report presented to the Committee of the Whole on the project and grant proposal.
The upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant will be multi-phase to meet quantity and quality regulations informed by projected growth to the city.
According to the report, the totally cost for the project is estimated to be between $31 and $36 million.
Phase 2 of the project will see nitrogen and phosphorous levels controlled through Moving Bed Bioreactor modification and chemical treatment. It is expected that these updates will be required in the next 10-20 years.
READ MORE: How much waste can Revelstoke’s sewage plant treat?
Phase 3 of the project is intended to meet future permanent and seasonal population demands projected to the year 2040.
If the grant does not come through and the project proceeds with Phase 1, additional funding could come from a combination of Sewer reserves, Sewer Development Cost Charges, Gas Tax and debt financing.
“Staff will continue to look for the possible funding opportunities as they arise, however the Finance Department has confirmed the city’s ability to borrow the required matching funds for the Phase 1 Project within our debt servicing limits,” the report reads.
If the grant application is successful a minor amendment to the Development Cost Charge bylaw would be appropriate to reduce the impact of the sewer upgrades on the Sewer Utility users. However, if the grant application is denied, or less than the requested amount is given, the amount payable by the utility users would increase as the the project may be required in the near future.
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