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Town of Pictou Wastewater Treatment and Conveyance Project

Type of initiative FCM Green Municipal Fund - Capital Project
Sector Water
Project value$8,617,641
Project Type Capital Project
Sub Sector Wastewater Management and Treatment
Grant amount$44,281
Program type GMF
Municipality Town of Pictou, NS
Loan amount$442,811
Status Fully Disbursed
Population 3,107
Project timeline 2003 - 2010
Project number 10331

Description

The Town of Pictou will replace an aged and inefficient combined sewer system, which delivers untreated sewage and wastewater directly into Pictou Harbour, with a new wastewater plant that is expected to improve effluent quality by 95 per cent. The plant will have the capacity to minimize overflows during spring thaw and severe weather while the town completes a new stormwater separation project.
The plant will use a Sequential Batch Reactor (SBR) treatment process, which includes an equalization tank, UV disinfection and sludge processing facilities. The facility will incorporate heat-recovery technology and a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system to monitor and control processes from a central location. Carefully planned environmental protection procedures will be used during construction to minimize land disruption.
Total Suspended Solids (TTS) will be reduced from a 549 to 25 mg/L, the five day Carbonaceous Oxygen Demand (CBOD5) will be reduced from 490 to 25 mg/L, and the system will not require the use of chlorine. Although not included in the activities for which the applicant is requesting funding from GMF, as part of this overall project, the town will install water meters in businesses and residences. These meters will be used to levee user fees based on usage. Based on the experience of other communities, the town expects these meters will help reduce water consumption by 10 to 15 per cent.
The new plant is needed to help the town conform to anticipated provincial regulations and to promote economic growth. The upgrade will improve water quality in the harbour, open up development opportunities in the community, and provide employment. Pictou’s Integrated Community Sustainability Plan identifies this upgrade as the town’s top priority.
(Project description from original funding application)

Project results

  • 862982 cubic metres of water treated per year
  • 45990 cubic metres of water saved per year

Environmental outcomes

  • Reduced energy use
  • Reduced or avoided GHG emissions
  • Reduced water consumption
  • Improved waste management
  • Reduced hazardous residuals from water treatment
  • Biodiversity and ecosystem protection

Social outcomes

  • Protection/improvement of public human health
  • Increased opportunities for physical activity
  • Increased opportunities for recreational activities
  • Greater civic pride and ownership
  • Community revitalization
  • Development of local programs

Economic outcomes

  • Reduced maintenance costs
  • Innovative financing
  • Increased tourism
  • Improved district land value
  • Increased business attraction
  • Increased municipal attraction
  • Local business development or local economy stimulus
  • Local spending/consumption
  • Use of feasibility tools
  • Improved demand management

Lessons learned

  • Stakeholder and community engagement
  • Communication & coordination
  • Data and reporting
  • Resources
  • External factors
  • Technical – Project specific

Applicant

Town of Pictou, NS