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Norfolk looks at water from Nanticoke
By DONNA McMILLAN
In 1977, the Nanticoke Water Treatment Plant was constructed to provide potable water to the Lake Erie Industrial Park, Jarvis, Townsend, Hagersville and part of the Mississaugas of New Credit First Nations. Long range plans were to extend this to other communities in Haldimand/Norfolk, Brantford and Waterloo Region. This facility has a certificate to use 400 million gallons of raw water per day. However, as Eric D’Hondt, General Manager of Public Works and Environmental Services, pointed out in a report to Council-in-Committee last Tuesday night, the growth predictions for the communities in the former Haldimand/Norfolk Region did not materialize.
The facility today remains much as it was when originally constructed and now the Ministry is looking at cutting back its’ 400 million gallon PTTW (Permit to Take Water) back to the 20% it currently uses.
Haldimand County believes the PTTW for 400 MIGD is still necessary and has initiated the Nanticoke Grand Valley Area Water Supply Project. Potential partners include Norfolk County, Brant County, Brantford, Haldimand County, Region of Waterloo, Six Nations and Mississaugas of the New Credit.
Norfolk County Council, on a recommendation moved by Port Dover Councillor John Wells, will contribute $16,000 or 5% toward a feasibility study to look at the scope of the area scheme; develop preliminary cost estimates; anticipated operational and maintenance costs; potential governance models; and project related risks.
Eric D’Hondt advised Norfolk ouncillors that four of the partners have already passed council recommendations for participation. Mr. Wells said he is “aware of the importance of water capacity and a centralized water supply is important to the community. I can’t think of a better investment”.
General Manager of Public Works D’Hondt advised that former Haldimand-Norfolk Region had recognized benefit to interconnect all or some of these separate municipal water supply systems and to supply water from one centralized water treatment plant. However, due to the high costs involved to construct both the long pipelines to interconnect communities and a centralized water treatment facility, the Region elected, for the short term, to remain with operating the six separate water supply systems. He indicated the ever increasing regulatory environment of today, the high cost of operating and maintaining separate water treatment facilities and the diminishing ability of Norfolk’s current water treatment and supply facilities to meet future needs has heightened the need to seriously consider a centralized water supply system.
Eric D’Hondt also advised that the Ministry requires municipalities to secure water in their own watershed. Therefore, the Region of Waterloo was forced to look to a Lake Erie option. He also advised Norfolk County will get one vote equal to all others even though it will only be contributing 5% toward the $300,000 study.
All councillors supported the recommendation.
-- Wednesday, May 9, 2007
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