WELLINGTON NORTH – Another expansion to Arthur’s wastewater treatment plant is needed sooner than scheduled to keep up with anticipated growth and development in the region.
A Triton Engineering report, which was scheduled to be discussed at a now cancelled Wellington North council special meeting, lays out suggested prioritization of projects relating to water and wastewater capacity in the township.
The next phase of expanding Arthur’s wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) should be top priority for the township.
The expansion is a two-phase project, with the first already being completed and the second originally recommended to be completed between 2025-2030.
The Triton Engineering report now says this needs to be moved up based on the amount of development in progress and population growth projections.
The County of Wellington official plan projects Arthur will increase in population by an additional 1,000 by 2036.
There are two active subdivision applications planned for Arthur under review by the County of Wellington which would add nearly 300 housing units to the town, if they were approved as is.
“We expect by the end of 2025 there will be no additional uncommitted reserve capacity available and development within Arthur will be halted once again,” the report says.
“For this reason, we suggest that phase two of the WWTP expansion should be scheduled for completion by the year 2025.”
In 2018, this expansion was estimated to cost $8.3 million. A staff report says phase two is already designed and ready for construction.
The report also says based on assessment, existing water storage only has enough to service existing population.
A surplus of water exists in the community but this is not calculable and a new water tower should be completed no later than 2030.
A new water tower in Arthur is estimated to cost $4 million.
