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Village of Shakespeare Wastewater Collection and Treatment Project

Type of initiative FCM Green Municipal Fund - Capital Project
Sector Water
Project value$8,546,000
Project Type Capital Project
Sub Sector Wastewater Management and Treatment
Grant amount$425,867
Program type GMF
Municipality Township of Perth East, ON
Loan amount$2,129,333
Status Fully Disbursed
Population 12,595
Project timeline 2007 - 2012
Project number 10411

Description

The Township of Perth East will build a new central sewage treatment system for the Village of Shakespeare, a community of 750 residents, which is currently served by outdated private septic systems. The township will also upgrade and improve monitoring of the centralized potable water system, which serves approximately one third of the community.
The village soil has an impermeable clay layer that impedes the function of septic systems. As a result, existing septic beds, many built to outdated standards, can discharge poorly treated sewage. The project is intended to provide wastewater collection and treatment to all properties within the village and stop sewage effluent from being discharged into local watercourses and contaminating local groundwater. This poses a potential risk to the municipally operated and private wells in the village. The proposed sewage system incorporates settling tanks, an aeration system, and the use of ultraviolet disinfection instead of the addition of chlorine. Tertiary treatment is provided through alum addition and filtration. The system’s Total Suspended Solids (TSS) and 5-day Carbonaceous Oxygen Demand (CBOD5) are projected to be 5 mg/L each. The sewage system will discharge clean, treated water into an area watercourse. Over time, former effluent from the septic tanks will continue leaching and move through the shallow ground water thus cleansing the natural system and removing existing contaminants.
The project will protect the natural heritage of the village, protect and restore shallow ground water quality in the village, improve aquatic habitats in the Avon River and Shakespeare Pond, and improve the health and aesthetics of the community. It will also allow the community to develop residential lots that are not large enough to accommodate septic beds, and continue developing in a sustainable manner.
(Project description from original funding application)

Project results

Environmental outcomes

  • Improved groundwater quality
  • Urban sprawl management

Social outcomes

  • Protection/improvement of public human health
  • Greater civic pride and ownership

Economic outcomes

  • Increased service life
  • Innovative financing
  • Increased municipal attraction
  • Local spending/consumption

Lessons learned

  • Stakeholder and community engagement
  • Communication & coordination
  • Resources
  • External factors

Applicant

Township of Perth East, ON