Municipality of the County of Colchester - Wastewater Collection Improvements: Valley, Salmon River, Debert

in progress

The project consists of upgrades to the existing wastewater systems in the communities of Valley, Salmon River and Debert. The scope of the work involves upgrades to two pumping stations and the installation of 3,500 m of small diameter sewer. The project aims to upgrade the wastewater system such that the quality of the effluent is improved. This project includes the following major improvements to wastewater collection infrastructure: upgrades to pumping station 15 in Valley and to pumping station 6 in Salmon River, and the diversion of flows away from an antiquated sewage treatment plant in Debert. Pumping stations 15 and 6 were constructed in the early 1970s. Aging electrical panels, valves and piping need replacing and controls need upgrading. Wet wells also need replacing. Upgrades will help to minimize inflows, allow for flow monitoring, improve reliability and provide better communications and controls. The stations, in total, serve approximately 200 homes. The Debert sewage treatment plant (STP) 2 is an old facility that was constructed in the early 1970s. It is an extended air package plant which is believed to have a treatment capacity of 25,000 US gallons per day. In a 2006 study, peak wet flows into the plant were measured at 650,000 US gallons per day. In 2011, the county diverted a large number of users away from Debert STP2, towards the newer main treatment plant in Debert (STP1). However there are still a small number of users connected to the old plant, which provides little to no treatment. One of the remaining connected users is the Debert Airport, which the county owns and operates. The proposed project to eliminate STP2 will see the installation of a small diameter pressure sewer to divert all remaining flows to Debert STP1 for treatment, thus eliminating many of the old gravity sewer lines, and therefore much of the wet weather flow. Properties will be serviced with individual pumping stations, and the system will accommodate plans for future development.