Title
Hamlet of Duffield Lagoon - Emergency Wastewater Haul
Proposed Motion(s)
That Council approve the expenditure of $135,000 from the Disaster Restricted Surplus and $169,000 from the Contingencies Restricted Surplus to cover the cost of emergency wastewater hauling from the Duffield Wastewater Lagoon and any funds received back from the province under the Disaster Recovery funding be deposited back into the respective Restricted Surplus accounts.
Body
Administration Recommendation(s)
Administration supports the expenditure of funds to offset the cost of emergency wastewater hauling.
Purpose
Emergency expenditures are required to be offset with funding from restricted surplus.
Summary
.
The Hamlet of Duffield wastewater lagoon is an evaporative lagoon. Discharging effluent from the lagoon to the environment is not permitted by Alberta Environment. Over the last several years significant amounts of snow and rain have increased the level in the lagoon at a higher rate than the evaporative process could handle. An aerator was purchased in 2010 to assist with the evaporation process but the unusually heavy rains this past summer negated any headway made with the use of the aerator and increased the water level to near overflowing. In order to avoid an unauthorized discharge of effluent into the environment the wastewater level had to be reduced by trucking the wastewater off site and disposing of it at a regional wastewater transfer station near Stony Plain.
Because of the unusually heavy rain during a period this past summer and the potential for an unauthorized discharge, application was made to the Province of Alberta under their disaster assistance program to see if funding was available to help offset these emergency costs. As a result a provincial representative had indicated that a portion of the expenditure could be covered and a recommendation went forward to reimburse Parkland County in the amount of $135,000. If and when these funds are received they will be transfered back into the restricted surplus.
Strategic Plan/Policy/Legal/Staff Implications (As Required)
Alberta Environment Code of Practice
Financial Impact:
Cost: $304,000.00
Source of Funding: $135,000 Disaster Restricted Surplus & $169,000 Contingencies Restricted Surplus
Other (As Required)