The City of Kimberley is making significant changes to its forthcoming wastewater treatment plant.
The changes will include design modifications, a different treatment process and a different location.
“These changes are critical to help ensure the project remains within budget and meets the City’s growing needs for wastewater management,” said the city.
The new plant is following the integrated project delivery (IPD) method, which city officials say involves collaborative planning and decision-making throughout each stage.
“During the pre-validation stage, the team identified that the original proposed plant design and location, based on the Food Chain Reactor (FCR) process and located at 302nd Avenue, would result in an estimated $40 million budget overrun and present challenges for future plant expansion,” said city staff.
As a result, the project team have proposed a new design using an Aerobic Granular Sludge (AGS) process and keeping the new location near the existing facility.
“This updated approach will support the City’s goal of keeping the project within the original $90.6 million budget and will ensure the plant has the capacity to grow with Kimberley’s population,” said city officials.
The City says the changes will also take environmental stewardship into account.
“The proposed location near the existing plant has been carefully selected to minimize impacts on surrounding natural habitats and will significantly reduce land disturbance compared to the original plan,” said the City.
“The revised plant design will be engineered to mitigate odours, meet or exceed effluent quality regulations, and facilitate efficient operations.”
Project Manager Shane Castle says the changes will be an overall benefit to the new facility and the community as a whole.
“The proposed treatment process is designed to comply with environmental standards, address odour concerns, and allow for future growth,” said Castle.
“The updated location, near the existing facility, will help manage costs while supporting long-term environmental safety and resilience against the impacts of climate change. We understand that these changes may raise questions and concerns, and we are dedicated to providing clear and transparent information as we move forward.”
Kimberley is currently working to secure the $66.5 million grant from the B.C. government to help pay for the project.
The city will host an open house to discuss the proposed plant design, process, and location with the public.
Once the project is completed, officials anticipate the facility to have a 50 to 60-year lifespan.
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