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Date: Nov 27, 2024
As Erin’s Wastewater Resource Recovery Facility is nearing completion, Town staff are in the early stages of establishing a sewer connection by-law and are applying for Provincial funding to help subsidize the cost to residents.
At a recent council meeting, Brian Kavanagh, Director of Infrastructure Services and Town Engineer, gave a comprehensive update on the entire project to Council.
He explained that the Hillsburgh watermain and gravity sewer portion has been completed, and micro tunnelling in Erin Village is set to be finished by the end of the year. The installation of sewer lines along Dundas Street East by KAPP Infrastructure, on behalf of SOLMAR Developments, is also projected to be finished by year-end.
The Wastewater Resource Recovery Facility is slated to be finished by June 2025.
Staff are working to establish a sewer connection by-law, which will establish a framework to govern the process of connecting homes and businesses to the wastewater system.
“We want connections to be efficient, compliant and equitable,” Kavanagh said, explaining that this by-law will not be implemented soon, but is necessary to give residents clarity and ability to plan.
Staff are submitting a capital request in the 2025 budget to help fund the development of the Sanitary Sewer Connection By-Law, which will require significant public consultation to help guide technical and financial planning.
Through this planning process, staff will establish a conceptual design, map the area feasible for hook-up, gather information on the condition of septic tanks, and explore the feasibility of an “optional” hook-up.
Town staff have recently met with representatives of the Ministry of Infrastructure, advocating for financial support to help hook up existing residents and businesses. Staff have applied to the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund, which closed on Nov. 1.
In addition to front-ending funding for the wastewater system, developers have also made $10.1 million in over-contributions to help build the local wastewater collection system and required infrastructure for existing Erin neighbourhoods.
An interim sewer rate is also being established for new residents with the help of Watson and Associates. This rate will aim to align with neighbouring municipalities.
Before hooking up to the wastewater treatment plant, the sewer fees paid by new residents in Erin Glen will help offset the developer’s costs of trucking sewage from holding tanks to the Orangeville wastewater treatment plant.
Council also received an updated set of costs for the entire wastewater system, including a breakdown for the Water Resource Recovery Facility, the pumping station, linear works and construction management.
This $200 million project has been funded entirely by the development community.
A report on interim-sewer rates will be coming to council in December.
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