ENVIRONMENT. Quebec will fund the implementation of a new wastewater treatment system up to 85% on the Notre-Dame-de-Stanbridge territory. Mayor Daniel Tétreault learned the good news just days before the launch of the latest provincial election campaign.
“Since the installation of such a system can cost up to $ 3 million, it would not have been possible for a small municipality like ours to finance such a project. I would like to remind you that our sanitary sewer system only serves 140 ports and that the number of taxpayers is therefore very limited, ”says Mr Tétreault.
The latter emphasizes that the Municipality is only waiting for the “official confirmation letter” from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MAMH) before submitting a grant application.
“We can therefore tackle the preparation of plans and specifications, the publication of the call for tenders, before meeting the lowest bidder and agreeing a work program with him. The works should start next year because the grant program expires on March 31, 2023 ”, summarizes the mayor.
Aerated ponds
Notre-Dame-de-Stanbridge will use aerated ponds to treat its wastewater. This is a system that has proven itself extensively throughout Quebec.
“The new structures are expected to last 50 years. We are also told that the new system will need much less maintenance than the current system, ”adds Tétreault in an optimistic tone.
The mayor is careful to point out that the realization of this project constitutes the culmination of lengthy procedures with the government authorities.
“Since 2018 we have been knocking on the door of the new MNA Isabelle Charest and have met her assistant Johanne Gauvin on several occasions to find out more about the available grant programs, selection criteria and registration procedures. the provincial office gave us a great hand. Even our general manager, Suzanne Marcoux, devoted a lot of time and effort to the practice to arrive, four years later, at a happy ending “, explains our interlocutor.
A system to replace
Residents of Notre-Dame-de-Stanbridge will recall that a first wastewater treatment system was built in 2010, the day after the implementation of the sewer network by the administration of Mayor Michel Pelletier. The City of Frelighsburg opted for a similar system shortly after.
According to Daniel Tétreault, the 120,000-square-foot reed field used for wastewater treatment is functional, but the water that flows into Morpions Creek after treatment does not meet Ministry of the Environment standards.
“The system has consistently exceeded phosphorus standards. A few years after its installation, some of the cells containing the reeds lost their efficiency and we started having faecal discharges of major coliforms. We tried to unlock the cells, but without success, “says Tétreault.
Council filed legal action in 2016 to seek compensation and was thus able to recover half of its investment following an out-of-court settlement of $ 500,000.
“However, we had to carry out expensive repairs, especially the pumps,” added the mayor.
In response to our questions, the treatment site manager, Serge Harbec, indicates that the reed field will remain in place the day after the new treatment system is installed, but adds that it will simply no longer be used.
