Arthur hits pause on finalizing new developments until more sewers are online

ARTHUR ‒ The Wellington North council has pressed pause on all sewage allocations until phase two of the Arthur Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion (WWTP) is tendered and awarded. 

This follows the Arthur WWTP mid-year reserve capacity calculation indicating the average influent flow rate for July was 10 per cent higher than recommended at 85 per cent of the current WWTP capacity.

The report approximates Phase 2 will cost $13.5 million.

“The policy, as it relates to development in Mount Forest, we haven’t come up against as much pressure as we have in Arthur,” said Mayor Andy Lennox, during the meeting. “This is making us rethink again how we can continue to allow development to occur if that is the direction we want to go.”

Phase 1 of the Arthur WWTP became operational in December 2020, increasing the plant's treatment capacity from 1,465 m3 /day. 

Phase 2 is anticipated to increase the plant's treatment capacity from 1,860 m3 /day to 2,300 m3 /day, creating an additional 440 equivalent residential units (ERUs). 

Construction is anticipated to begin in spring/summer of 2024 and be completed in 2025. 

"This cost is subject to change but is based on the best information available during Summer 2023," said the report. "It should be noted that significant risk remains related to the cost of this project (as) there is a limited number of contractors that specialize in this construction field." 

But senior planner, Matt Daoust clarified there are planning tools the council can use to encourage development in the meantime.  

"Let's say a developer comes forward and wants to move forward with a subdivision, we can put a hold on the property," said Daoust. "That way, the planning process has moved forward but there's a freeze until sewage allocation comes back online." 

Once Phase 2 is completed, the report said there are no future options to expand the existing WWTP due to constraints from the Conestogo River and MCEP. 

“I think at the beginning of phase one, if any of us had said that we’d be talking about this at this stage, we would’ve said 'Nah...' but here we are,” said Lennox. “So I think we’re going to have to pursue some new options.”

Council will explore options for Arthur's growing WWTP at a future meeting. 

Isabel Buckmaster is the Local Journalism Initiative reporter for GuelphToday. LJI is a federally-funded program.