Mountain View County council has been given an update on the wastewater pipeline project now underway between Olds and Red Deer.
South Red Deer Regional Wastewater Commission officials gave the update at the regularly scheduled policies and priorities committee meeting on July 2.
The commission has representatives from Mountain View and Red Deer counties, and the towns of Olds, Bowden, Innisfail and Penhold.
Commission chairman Dennis Cooper, who is also the mayor of Penhold, told councillors that officials now believe the project will be completed by mid- 2015, at a final cost of $135 million, which is $29 million more than the original estimate.
“There are three stages and two of those are now complete,” said Cooper. “The pipe is complete and operational and moving effluent all the way from Olds to Penhold at this present time.”
The province is funding 90 per cent of the project, with area municipalities, including MVC, covering the remaining 10 per cent. Construction began on the line in 2009.
“The initial cost was estimate $107 million at 2006 dollars and now it's $135 million. Inflation and how we put the pipe in the ground has increased the costs,” he said.
“Originally the project was supposed to be a three year project, but due to funding restrictions, we had to slow the project down and move a little slower and so we'll have the project finished by basically June 2015.”
The cost overruns have been due in part to the need to purchase private land for the pipe right-of-way, he said, noting that the original plan called for the pipe to go along more municipal road allowances but that proved to be impractical.
The commission plans to borrow $20 million to help bring the project in by mid-2015, which will eventually be repaid by the province, he said.
“We are borrowing what is called bridge funding. We get $12 million a year for three years. We want to get the project over with so we will carry $20 million debt until the province pays us the money and then the debt will be paid off,” he said.
Cooper told council that inflow and infiltration (I & I) of clean water into the sewer system is something all municipalities and residents need to be aware of and to help address.
“The pipe is designed to handle sewage, but some people have their sump pumps running into their drain in their basement so what is happening is it's driving up the cost of treating the effluent. We are treating rainwater and ground water and that's something that is not needed, he said. “We really encourage people to not pump it down their drains in their basement. Put the sump pump outside and water your grass and your trees. It's good clean water for that and we encourage people to do that.
“Everyone of the towns knows this is a problem and it is money down the drain so they are all working on it. Every municipality is working it trying to stop the I & I.”
Portions of the project completed include the Innisfail-Penhold pipeline section, the Penhold-Springbrook section, the Innisfail lift station, the Olds lift station, the Bowden lift station, and the Olds-Bowden pipeline section. Portions still to be completed include the Penhold lift station.
