Although provincial financing won’t be coming forward this year for a proposed sewer system, Kippens council still considers the project a priority for the town.
Mayor Cator Best, Chief Administrative Officer Gerry Flynn, and MHA Tony Cornect recently met with Municipal Affairs Minister Dianne Whalen to discuss the sewer project’s funding application status with the provincial government.
A report was presented to the minister prepared by Councillor Debbie Brake-Patten, chair of the town’s sewer project committee.
“It basically gives an outline right from when we started the initial application, which was in Sept. 2008, the necessity for the sewer system, [and] the plebiscite results that [found] the majority of people are in favour of it,” said Councillor Brake-Patten of the report.
The report states waste from the region is currently transported to two privately owned locations, located in Codroy Valley and Pasadena, where it is dumped into lagoons. The councillor said it is uncertain what the future holds for these two sites.
“There’s only two companies doing it now – what happens if they shut down their business or these lagoons become too full to handle any more?” she querried.
Alternative considered
While the provincial government informed the town that water quality is a higher priority for capital works funding this year, Kippens council has been encouraged to re-submit their application.
The government also suggested the possibility of the town utilizing a sewerage and sludge treatment system currently used in other parts of the province.
“We’ve decided instead of going with the Type II Batch Reactor style, we’d like to look at the wetlands that is in place in Stephenville right now and in Appleton,” said Councillor Brake-Patten.
This type of treatment is an engineered wetland, whose advantages include a life system of 60 years, no electricity, no chemicals, low operating costs and little maintenance.
“I guess the maximum expense would be putting it there, but after that, it takes care of itself,” said the councillor.
She added new applications to the government would be adjusted to include this new engineered wetland, which should prove satisfactory for those residents who questioned the initially proposed Type II Batch Reactor System.
Regardless of the system used, Councillor Brake-Patten said the town continues to grow and develop and council will try to do whatever possible to keep residents happy.
2010 is the final year for the town’s $100 rebate for residential septic tank pumping. Council remains concerned as to whether residents will continue to pump their tanks to ensure all systems work at optimal efficiency.
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