NEWS RELEASE

Halifax Wastewater Treatment Facility Recovery On Schedule

(Tuesday, December 22, 2009) – An upbeat Mayor Peter Kelly took the media along on an inspection tour Tuesday of the soon-to-be-restored Halifax wastewater treatment facility. He challenged reporters to join him for a swim in the harbour, once the plant was operational.
“The progress made over the last few months is very impressive,” said the Mayor. “It’s clear a major effort is well underway to get this operation back on line. “

The equipment suffered serious damage last winter when a local power failure caused wastewater to flood the building.

The plant is part of HRM’s Harbour Solutions, a massive $333-million undertaking by Council to clean up the harbour. Harbour Solutions includes new state-of-the-art treatment facilities in Dartmouth and Herring Cove, both of which are moving toward final commissioning stages.
According to Mayor Kelly, the downtown Halifax plant is in the second and final stage of recovery and is expected to be back on line by spring.

“All residents can look forward to the return of greatly improved water quality in our harbour again this summer,” he told reporters.

Phase One of the recovery of the Halifax plant, which was completed late September, eliminated odours and floatables previously noted in the area of the Cogswell Street interchange and casino.

Mayor Kelly said all damaged equipment is being repaired or replaced and noted most of the funding for the recovery effort, which is expected to cost approximately $11 million, will be covered by the project's Builder's Risk Insurance.

There are 13 wastewater treatment facilities throughout HRM, including one at Mill Cove in Bedford and another at Eastern Passage. Both have been operational since the 1970s. Mill Cove has had two expansions and has room for a third. In Eastern Passage, tenders will soon be called to expand its capacity.

In depth 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 and the Halifax Water website at www.halifaxwater.ca where newsletters, diagrams, photos, background materials, and answers to frequently asked questions can be found.

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Contact:

Mayor Peter Kelly

490-4010

James Campbell – Halifax Water, Communications & Public Relations Coordinator
490-4604