City of Morden Innovative WWTF Feasibility Study

The City of Morden currently operates a wastewater lagoon facility that discharges effluent to Dead Horse Creek. With the recent and anticipated growth of the City of Morden and surrounding communities, the region of Winkler-Stanley-Morden are in need of a localized, sustainable wastewater treatment solution. Federal Funding of Phase 1 of the project has been confirmed but the selection of a wastewater treatment technology has been stalled while the community works to find solutions that are more cost-effective to align with funding opportunities and also provide long-term operational sustainability. 
The existing lagoon that is part of Morden’s Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF) is currently being overwhelmed and will soon no longer be a suitable effluent discharge option. The City has hired MAGNA Engineering Services (MAGNA) to complete a feasibility study that will evaluate green technology options for upgrading the wastewater treatment facility that potentially will provide a more upfront cost-effective option and also provide lower long-term operational sustainability. MAGNA will work with the City to evaluate a suitable wastewater treatment technology that can meet the requirements of the Manitoba Ministry of Environment, Climate and Parks (MECP) and support the City’s continued growth into the future. 
In this planning exercise, sustainability initiatives will be reviewed explicitly, including the use of naturalized wastewater treatment options (i.e. engineered wetlands) supporting the City’s goals for environmental stewardship.
The Feasibility Study will consist of five distinct deliverables: a Background Report, a Stakeholder Engagement Process, a Wastewater Treatment Options Assessment, a Technology Package, and a Final Report.
Background Report: This document will include a thorough review of the projected population of Morden to understand how much capacity any future wastewater treatment system will need to manage. It will also evaluate the current wastewater treatment facility to clearly understand the current capacity limitations and any imminent risks.   
Stakeholder Engagement Process: This process will bring together all involved parties to understand their goals and expectations. Elected officials from the City along with the administrative staff will be key to this process. Additionally, the project team will engage with provincial regulatory departments and other relevant regional neighbours.
Wastewater Treatment Options Assessment: This report will review treatment facilities on a spectrum from more advanced mechanical treatment to more passive, lower O&M, naturalized options. All options need to be measured based on upfront capital, long-term operations and maintenance (O&M), lifecycle costs, energy efficiency, GHG savings, and treatment capabilities. The technology best able to meet the goals of the City will be determined upon completion of this step. 
Technology Package: In this report a pre-conceptual design package will be created around the chosen treatment technology from the Options assessment. This will act as the guiding technical document for future pilot projects and full-scale construction.
Final Report: This document will summarize the findings of the entire feasibility study and map out the next steps for the City.