NEWS RELEASE

Progress Continues on Halifax Wastewater Treatment Facility Recovery

(Tuesday, August 11, 2009) - Efforts continue to restore the Halifax Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF), to implement a plan to divert flows from the Halifax wastewater collection system, and to mitigate odours in the downtown.Work is well underway to implement a flow diversion plan that would see dry-weather flows routed through the Halifax WWTF, screened and discharged through the existing Halifax plant outfall pipe, which extends approximately one kilometre into Halifax Harbour and provides a 50:1 dilution.

To that end the following steps have been undertaken:

• All equipment for the plant’s wet well has been ordered with an anticipated delivery for the middle to end of August;
• The sluice gate actuator has arrived and is being assembled with the gear box;
• Pumps damaged in the flood are being repaired so all five can be used in the flow diversion, and should be installed by the end of August;
• All electrical junction boxes will be moving up to the street level area of the plant with the delivery of longer cables required to do this expected by the end of August;
• Plans are underway to re-commission ventilation and odour control systems before flows are diverted to the plant from the eight combined sewer overflows;
• Flows are scheduled to be delivered to the WWTF in early September, from gravity-fed systems first followed by flows through the Pier A pumping station and the Duffus St. pumping station.

Odour mitigation measures are in place with two ozone generators installed on July 10 adjacent to a catchbasin on the west side of Upper Water Street just north of Cogswell Street. The ozone generators are having a positive effect overall, but their effectiveness depends on the quantity of effluent in the tunnel, wind direction, tides and temperature. Activated carbon air filters have been installed in two other catchbasins in the same area and are being changed out every week to increase their effectiveness in reducing odour.

“We are doing everything we can to significantly reduce odours in the downtown, but we cannot eliminate all odours at all times,” said Mayor Peter Kelly. “The diversion of dry-weather flows through the Halifax plant will mark a significant milestone in the alleviation of odours.”

Work also continues on the full recovery of the plant and it remains the intention of Halifax Water and Halifax Regional Municipality to see the plant back in operation in the spring of 2010.

Five new pumps have been ordered from Germany, the largest single replacement cost for the plant at a cost of $2 million, covered by insurance. Mechanical and electrical contractors have been hired to replace or repair equipment damaged in the flood and a new motor control centre will be ordered in the near future.

Information about the Halifax WWTF along with other aspects of the Harbour Solutions project are posted on the HRM website at http://halifax.ca/HWWTF/index.html where newsletters, diagrams, photos, background materials, and answers to frequently asked questions can be found.

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Contacts:

Mayor Peter Kelly
(902) 490-4010

Carl Yates
General Manager, Halifax Water
(902) 490-4840

James Campbell
Halifax Water Communications
(902) 490-4604