Town of Kapuskasing Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades Project
Type of initiative
FCM Green Municipal Fund - Capital Project
Sector
Water
Project value$7,558,760
Project Type
Capital Project
Sub Sector
Wastewater Management and Treatment
Grant amount$231,766
Program type
GMF
Municipality
Town of Kapuskasing, ON
Loan amount$2,317,662
Status
Fully Disbursed
Population
8,057
Project timeline
2010 - 2011
Project number
10431
Description
The Town of Kapuskasing will update its 26-year-old wastewater treatment plant to comply with current discharge, health and safety standards, reduce energy costs, and eliminate untreated sewage discharges into the Kapuskasing River. The upgrade will also improve monitoring, reduce the volume of waste biosolids hauled off-site, and eliminate chlorine from the plant’s treated effluent.
The town’s aging wastewater treatment plant routinely discharges raw sewage during rain storms and power outages. In summer, the system has difficulty meeting target levels for E. coli reduction without introducing unacceptable levels of chlorine into the water the plant discharges. The upgraded system is designed to handle peak flows and disinfect effluent with a UV system, which does not produce residual chlorine.
The upgrade is expected to help maintain Kapuskasing’s quality of life by protecting the environment and improving water quality in the river, which will benefit commercial and recreational fishing. The town is a regional mining centre and is diversifying its economy with a focus on manufactured wood products and renewable energy. Municipal leaders believe that upgrading the wastewater treatment plant and other infrastructure will also help the town attract new commercial ventures that will help it prosper and grow.
(Project description from original funding application)
Project results
- 2025750 cubic metres of water treated per year
Environmental outcomes
- Reduced energy use
- Improved waste management
- Minimal environmental impact
- Biodiversity and ecosystem protection
Social outcomes
- Protection/improvement of public human health
- Increased staff health and safety
- Increased opportunities for recreational activities
- Improved service delivery and/or level or service
- Community revitalization
Economic outcomes
- Reduced maintenance costs
- Increased service life
- New or improved revenue streams
- Innovative financing
- Increased job creation or retention
- Increased business attraction
- Use of feasibility tools
- Improved demand management
Lessons learned
- Stakeholder and community engagement
- Council support/buy-in
- Communication & coordination
- Technical – Project specific
Applicant
Town of Kapuskasing, ON