Wastewater treatment: the province wants to force Winnipeg to work faster

Winnipeg was asking Manitoba Environment, Climate and Parks for a six-month extension to complete work worth $352 million at this wastewater treatment plant.

The renovation project, which will cost nearly $2 billion in total, has been delayed due to several issues, including mechanical, electrical and foundation. NAC Constructors, based in Ontario, had to redo several works that had already been completed.

The City is now suing him for breaching his contract, which is worth $180 million.

In a series of letters dated April 14, Manitoba’s director of environmental approvals, James Capotosto, accuses Winnipeg of losing control of the South End project, harming the environment and endangering people’s health. .

The City’s lack of control over the project and persistently missed deadlines are extremely concerning.he wrote.

In a letter to the province obtained by CBCCity of Winnipeg Chief Executive Officer Michael Jack recalls that the City has been open and transparent about the construction problems at the South End factory and the delays the dispute with NAC Constructors is causing.

The City obtains outside legal advice and considers all possible remedies provided for in the contract [avec NAC Constructors] to expedite the completion of work and protect waterways and taxpayersit says.

Province wants to speed up work in the North End

The province is also asking the City to complete by 2030, rather than 2032, its work on the North End wastewater treatment plant, the project of which will cost $1.6 billion.

The renovation of the North End Wastewater Treatment Plant has three phases.

The North End project is not yet fully funded. (archives)

Photo: Jacques Marcoux/CBC

The first concerns the modernization of diversion works at a cost of $473 million. It is funded by Ottawa, the province and the City. The levels of government agreed to this funding last year.

The second phase focuses on building a $552 million facility to process biosolids. It is awaiting funding approval.

The third phase, which envisions the construction of a new nutrient removal plant, does not yet have funding.

In his letter, the director general of the City indicates that it will not accelerate the end of the work or create a deadline.

Jack laments that the province continues to require Winnipeg to find a private partner to build the biosolids treatment plant before Manitoba submits the request for federal funding. He recalls that Prime Minister Heather Stefanson had assured that the project would be done as determined by the City and that the request for federal funding would be submitted as soon as possible.

A report from the municipal administration, released Wednesday, assures that the province has still not sent the request for funding to Ottawa.

However, the provincial government said in a statement Wednesday that the biosolids treatment plant project was fully funded.

Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman said he hopes the Manitoba capital and the province can find a way to settle their dispute over funding.

Current sewage treatment capacity is limited and continued delays will impact Winnipeg’s economic and population developmenthe insisted.

With information from Bartley Kives