M & C 2011 256 November 1 st, 2011 His Worship Mayor Ivan Court And Members of Common Council Your Worship and Members of Council: SUBJECT: Saint John Harbour Clean-Up This report will update Common Council on the Harbour Clean-Up Program. BACKGROUND Progress There has been tangible progress made in improving our community s wastewater service and, as a result, its water environment is getting much healthier. Waterways like the lower end of Marsh Creek (One-Mile House to Courtney Bay), Dutchman s Creek, the St. John River, Saint John Harbour and others that in 1993 received some 23.5 million litres of untreated, raw sewage effluents per day have been or are being cleaned up. Clean Water Environment Municipal wastewater effluents are among the largest sources of pollution, by volume, in Canadian waters. Untreated or inadequately treated wastewaters have serious impacts on aquatic life and the environment, contribute significantly to water pollution related health problems, and have adverse consequences for the economy. Alternatively, a clean water environment translates into better health, a more inviting waterfront and waterways, more positive economic opportunities (recreation, tourism, fishing), and enhanced quality of life. 1993 Wastewater Strategy Work towards these outcomes has been going on since the early 1990s, when the three levels of government studied the environmental quality of Saint John Harbour and wastewater treatment in Saint John. The 1993 Wastewater Strategy resulted; a comprehensive program of recommended improvements for the treatment of all collected wastewater effluents. Earlier Improvements A series of wastewater service advances were made prior to Harbour Clean-Up : Western Beaches Collection System (Phase I d in 1995, Phase II in 1997); the major Churchill Boulevard Sewage Lift Station (1999); Kennebecasis Drive Lift Stations and Forcemain (2000); Millidgeville WWTP Sludge Dewatering Upgrade (2000); the Churchill Boulevard Sanitary Collector Sewer (2002); Millidgeville WWTP Expansion (2003); Taylor-McLaren-Sandy Point Sanitary Collector (2005); Spar Cove-Millidge Sanitary Collector (2006); and the Prince Street Sanitary Collector Sewer (2006). Design of the Eastern Wastewater Treatment Facility, undertaken by the City, was d (and ready to go) in 2007.
REPORT TO COMMON COUNCIL, M&C 2011 256 PAGE 2 HARBOUR CLEAN-UP PROGRAM The Province of New Brunswick committed its share of funding on October 4 th, 2006. On September 17 th, 2008, a contribution agreement with the Government of Canada for its share was signed, in follow-up to an announcement made on March 16 th, 2007. The Saint John Harbour Clean-Up Program comprises two main components: I. Eastern Wastewater Treatment Facility (EWWTF); and II. Wastewater Collection System (see collection system upgrade map). Eastern Wastewater Treatment Facility (EWWTF) The contract for construction of the EWWTF was awarded by Council on March 16 th, 2009 to Pomerleau Inc. and work began soon after on the site of the existing Hazen Creek WWT Plant on Red Head Road. The facility outfall contract was awarded on March 29 th, 2010. Both projects are now close to substantial completion. Wastewater has been introduced to the new facility for processing and the plant is undergoing final testing and commissioning prior to being formally turned over to the City. Saint John Water is taking over operations and staff is becoming familiar with the modern equipment and the much advanced technology involved. The old Hazen Creek treatment plant has been demolished and removed. The new facility is one that Saint John will be proud of; it will serve the community for decades to come. Upon completion of collection system upgrades, the EWWTF will treat municipal wastewater effluents from serviced areas in East Saint John, the South-Central Peninsula, and neighbourhoods north of the Throughway. The three Saint John wastewater treatment facilities of the future - Lancaster, Millidgeville, and the new Eastern plant will provide secondary level treatment and position this community well to meet its enviornmental protection obligations.
REPORT TO COMMON COUNCIL, M&C 2011 256 PAGE 3 Wastewater Collection System The wastewater collection and pumping system requires a total of 22 additional lift stations and new forcemain/collector sewers to be constructed. Work on these has progressed well, with the following projects tendered and constructed or : 1. Sanitary Forcemain, Phase 1 and Phase 2 - d; 2. Monte Cristo Lift Station #34 and Forcemain - d; 3. Red Head Road Lift Station #1 - d; 4. Red Head Road Lift Station #50 - d; 5. Lift Station #2 - d; 6. Newmans Brook Sewer Separation - d; 7. Spar Cove Lift Station #22 - d; 8. Harbour Station SLS #10 and Forcemain - completion November 2011; 9. Riverview Avenue SLS #30 and Forcemain - completion November 2011; 10. Marsh Creek New Collector Sewer and Forcemain - completion June 2012; 11. Crown Street SLS #8 and Forcemain - completion June 2012; and 12. Bridge Street SLS #23 - completion June 2012. The rest of this year and next will be busy as remaining network components are tendered for construction in 2012. These lift station, forcemain and sanitary collector projects are generally smaller in scope than the works already d or. The tendering period for each project is typically three weeks, with an additional two-week period for analysis, recommendation to Council and award of the contract. would begin shortly thereafter, with all invoices, including holdback amounts, submitted before March 31 st, 2013.
REPORT TO COMMON COUNCIL, M&C 2011 256 PAGE 4 The next group of wastewater pumping facilities, with associated forcemain and collector sewers, to be constructed are (tentative dates for tendering as indicated): 13. Milford Lift Station #32 - tender November 2011; 14. Tippet Drive Lift Station #33 - tender November 2011; 15. Chesley Drive Lift Station #10A - tender November 2011; 16. Lower Cove (Water Street) Lift Station #9 - tender January 2012; 17. (at Causeway) Lift Station #3 - tender January 2012; 18. Crown Street (Elliot Row) Lift Station #7 - tender February 2012; 19. Crown Street (King Street East) Lift Station #7A - tender February 2012; 20. Haymarket Square Lift Station #5 - tender February 2012; 21. Rothesay Avenue (at civic #175) Lift Station #6 - tender February 2012; 22. Riverview Drive (near Throughway) Lift Station #28 - tender March 2012; 23. Kennedy Street Lift Station #24 - tender April 2012; 24. Highland Road Lift Station #21 - tender April 2012; and 25. Main Street West Lift Station #31 - tender April 2012. Table 1 (attached) provides a status summary of all wastewater upgrade projects. The overall total estimated cost of the Harbour Clean-Up Program, as reported to Council on September 28 th, 2009, is $99,400,000 including the City s eligible HST rebate. To date, the cumulative amount committed through award of program projects is almost $77,516,000. The current analysis of the package of Program projects indicates that overall costs will fall well within the $99,400,000 budget. THORNE AVENUE LIFT STATION #4 (MRIF) Thorne Avenue Lift Station #4 is the largest, most critical pumping facility in the City s entire wastewater system. Being constructed with funding support from the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (approved September 2006) and separate from the Harbour Clean-Up Program, it will receive and push flows from East Saint John, the South Central Peninsula and areas north of the Throughway to treatment at the new Eastern Wastewater Treatment Facility. This essential infrastructure in relatively close proximity to the Bay of Fundy is being constructed as a Post-Disaster Facility - to withstand a 1-in-100 year storm surge and continue to deliver service in the event of a disaster. Its location in the lower Marsh Creek drainage basin and required deep construction (15.4 metre depth of foundation) make for particularly challenging soil and ground water conditions. Common Council awarded the contract for construction to Castle Rock Services Inc. on May 9 th, 2011, with completion scheduled for June 2012.
REPORT TO COMMON COUNCIL, M&C 2011 256 PAGE 5 The approved budget for the Thorne Avenue Lift Station #4 project is $16,820,000. MODERN FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE Members of Council should visit the new Eastern Wastewater Treatment Facility and other system upgrades as soon as possible. These works represent a lasting investment in our community s future. Photographs of the new EWWTF are attached. Saint John will soon reach its 100% treatment objective with a wastewater system that is modern and robust; one that will treat collected domestic sewage to demanding Canadian standards. We will move ahead of many communities in this regard. Emphasis going forward will need to be on properly maintaining this infrastructure - to ensure its reliability and to maximize its service life. Strengthened environmental regulations being introduced through the Canada-wide Strategy for the Management of Municipal Wastewater Effluents will also require careful attention to what is going into municipal sewer systems. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OPERATING COSTS Council should appreciate that the marked increase in the number of facilities and their operating requirements will mean higher overall operating costs for wastewater services. Although staff resources will not increase, added expenses for electricity, fuel, chemicals, property taxes, sludge disposal and the like will impact user charges. This has been recognized from the outset and highlighted in earlier budget reports. INPUT FROM OTHERS The Saint John Harbour Clean-Up Program has been a joint effort of several municipal departments, supported by engineering consultants and the construction industry. The Legal Department (most notably Lynda Farrell), Community Planning and Real Estate (Paul Wilson), Finance (Greg Yeomans and Hilary Nguyen), and Saint John Water Operations (Graham Huddleston and the wastewater treatment team) have provided invaluable support to Municipal Engineering (Brian Keenan, Kendall Mason and John Campbell). Each member of staff involved has provided exceptional service and made a lasting contribution to their community. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that Common Council receive and file this report. Respectfully submitted, J. M. Paul Groody, P. Eng. J. Patrick Woods, CGA Commissioner City Manager Municipal Operations & Engineering
REPORT TO COMMON COUNCIL, M&C 2011 256 PAGE 6 TABLE 1: WASTEWATER PUMPING AND COLLECTION PROJECT STATUS Project Location Design/ / Property General Comments Lift Station #1 Red Head Road (J.D. Irving) Ltd. Contract #2010-3 Lift Station #2 (NB Power) Contract #2010-2 Lift Station #3 Design Lift Station #4 Thorne Avenue Lift Station #5 City Road Design Lift Station #6 Rothesay Avenue Design Land acquisition to be finalized (Irving Oil) (Downey) License Agreement required (CN) License Agreement required (CN) January 2012 Castle Rock Services Inc. Contract #2010-1 February 2012 February 2012 Lift Station #7 Crown Street Design February 2012 Lift Station #8 Crown Street Lift Station #9 Water Street Design Lift Station #10 Lift Station #10A Harbour Station Chesley Drive near completion Design Lift Station #21 Highland Road Design Lift Station #22 Spar Cove (NB Housing) Land acquisition being finalized (SJ Port Authority) (David and Abraham Inc. and NB Southern) Land acquisition finalized (Four Star Leasing) Ltd. Contract #2011-9 January 2012 Ltd. Contract #2010-13 November 2011 April 2012 Ltd. Contract #2010-24
REPORT TO COMMON COUNCIL, M&C 2011 256 PAGE 7 TABLE 1: WASTEWATER PUMPING AND COLLECTION PROJECT STATUS Project Lift Station #23 Location Main Street Robertson s Square Design/ / Lift Station #24 Kennedy Street Design Lift Station #28 Riverview Drive Design Lift Station #30 Falls View Drive Lift Station #31 Main Street West Design Lift Station #32 Milford Road Design Property (Applied Pressure Inc) Highway Usage Permit required (NBDOT) Land acquisition required Partial street closure d General Comments Ltd. Contract #2011-12 April 2012 March 2012 Ltd. Contract #2011-10 April 2012 November 2011 Lift Station #33 Dominion Park Road Design November 2011 Lift Station #34 Lift Station #50 Monte Cristo Park Red Head Road (J.D. Irving) Ltd. Contract #2009-19 Ltd. Contract #2010-3 Marsh Creek Collector Sewer Marsh Creek Area (J.D. Irving) Contract #2011-11 Newmans Brook Sewer Separation Force Main Phase 1 Force Main Phase 2 Sandy Point Road (NB Supply & Services) Street ROW Street ROW ACL Contract #2009-36 Contract #2009-5 Contract #2010-2