St. Mary’s council approves funding to replace saturation tank at water treatment facility
St. Mary’s council approves funding to replace saturation tank at water treatment facility
By Joanne Jordan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
SHERBROOKE — Municipality of the District of St. Mary’s council has approved a recommendation from its committee of the whole to fund the replacement of the saturation tank at its water treatment facility.
During an April 17 meeting, Director of Public Works Teddy Stevens outlined the need to do so because the existing one is insufficient for the required water treatment.
The saturation tank produces micro bubbles of air that aid in the process of removing organics from the water.
According to the staff report from Stevens, the saturation tank – which has never been inspected for structural integrity since it was installed in 1999 – will not produce enough micro bubbles to efficiently remove the organics from the water. It suggests that the saturation tank be replaced with a properly working and fabricated one.
“We are very pleased with the upgrades that our public works department have made to our water and treatment operations,” said Deputy Warden James Fuller. “Previously, the plants were maintained and all health and safety standards were maintained, but after time some equipment needed to be replaced. The new aeration equipment will ensure the continued quality and safety of water treatment for many years to come.”
He added, “In addition, our public works department is looking for even more improvements, such as remote monitoring, giving us the ability to be alerted to any mechanical issues immediately, giving us even more flexibility.
“Frankly, the older system was in need of upgrading and standardization, and I am very pleased that our public works personnel have strived to make it so. Teddy [Stevens] and his crew have done magnificent work getting the systems modernized. Can't praise them enough. Really.”
Samson Equipment submitted the lone bid – $73,400, plus HST – to the dissolved air flotation (DAF) system tender call.
Flood mapping digital tools
In a report presented at the April 17 committee of the whole meeting, staff indicated that the Nova Scotia Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing is supporting municipalities with flood mapping projects under their Municipal Flood Line Mapping program.
The 3D mapping products will assist municipalities in flood risk and hazard communication with stakeholders, rights-holders, businesses and residents, as well as with asset management decisions, emergency management operations, land use and infrastructure planning, community planning and infrastructure stress testing.
3D digital mapping products are created with LiDAR data (laser-light detection and ranging) along DEM (digital elevation models), technology that allows for clear and engaging content in an interactive, user-friendly format that is optimized for mobile, tablet and desktop use.
Stakeholders, including the municipality, received the first draft report from the provincial department on March 20, with the final one expected to be available by the end of April or beginning of May. Council will be able to use that report in choosing its next steps.
Phase 1 of the project involved measuring, modeling and mapping the coastline of the Eastern Shore from Ecum Secum to the Canso Causeway. The final report, data, model and flood maps for Phase 1 have been completed and submitted to the municipality by engineers.
Phase 2, which will be fully funded and provincially led, extends into the watershed level. It is nearly completed.
Council directed staff to send a letter to the senior planner with municipal affairs, with supporting quotes, requesting full funding for a 3D digital flood mapping product.
Event advertising
Council reviewed a list of annual celebrations in the municipality as part of the process of deciding what avenues to use in publicizing them; either the St. Mary’s monthly municipal newsletter or the Guysborough Journal.
As the list was read during the committee of the whole meeting, councillors had the opportunity to weigh in with their opinions on each one.
The committee of the whole recommended that council direct municipal staff to participate in campaigns with the selected publisher for each event, with the municipal clerk having the responsibility to follow up with executing the ad submissions.
Joanne Jordan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Guysborough Journal
