Open house held regarding possible water plant expansion

Sydnee Botham (left), a development engineering co-ordinator with the Town of Amherstburg, chats with Leo Meloche at the public information centre for the possible expansion of the Amherstburg Water Treatment Plant. The former deputy mayor was one of the members of the public that gave their thoughts at the Feb. 4 meeting at the Libro Centre.

Could there be an expansion of the Amherstburg Water Treatment Plant on the horizon?

The possibility that the water plant could be upgraded and expanded was the subject of a public information centre last Thursday night (Feb. 5) at the Libro Centre. 

It was the first of two open houses, with the date of the second yet to be determined.

Todd Hewitt, the town’s manager of engineering and operations, said the first public information centre was part of a process that stemmed from the current plant getting closer to capacity during hot temperatures several years ago.

“A few years ago, we reached the point where we hit 80 per cent capacity in the summer months, 90 per cent on the really hot days,” said Hewitt. 

Hewitt said 80 per cent is the “trigger for the MECP (Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks) for expansion.”

The process is at the second of five phases, which is to identify and evaluate alternative solutions and to select a preferred solution. Future phases include to identify and evaluate alternative design concepts for the preferred solution, to prepare an environmental study report and make it publicly available and to implement the preferred design.

The project is being done in partnership with Stantec Consulting.

There are five options that are being considered, with Hewitt stating the public is still invited to provide input.

The five alternatives are to do nothing, implement water conservation measures, source additional water supplies from neighbouring communities, expand the existing Amherstburg Water Treatment Plant or to build an additional water treatment plant.

When the preferred solution is identified, Hewitt said they will go back to the public.

“Once we do that, another public information centre will be held,” he stated.

“We hope we have the EA (environmental assessment) done by the end of the year.”

The municipal election could impact the process, as much of the issue could come before the new town council and what they decide.

“Where we go might be affected by that,” said Hewitt.

Hewitt emphasized there is no danger of the town running low of water, but they could approach capacity at the plant by 2035. He said administration wants to ensure they are taking measures to plan for the future and to handle projected growth. The 80 per cent trigger is not being hit in the colder months, he noted.

For more information, visit www.talktheburg.ca/awtpexpansionea. 

Open house held regarding possible water plant expansion

By Ron Giofu