COLD LAKE - In a move towards environmental sustainability and regulatory compliance, the Cold Lake Regional Utilities Commission (RUSC) has given the green light for the construction of a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plant.
Set to commence this summer, the $34 million project marks a step in modernizing the region's wastewater management infrastructure.
“Wastewater treatment is one of those things that does not often grab headlines until things go very wrong,” said Ryan Bailey, Chair of Cold Lake RUSC and a City of Cold Lake councillor. "This project will modernize our treatment process to bring us well within compliance, despite a very challenging set of circumstances.”
Kevin Nagoya, RUSC Manager and CAO for the City of Cold Lake, emphasized the necessity of this investment, while also acknowledging its financial implications.
“Wastewater treatment is a very necessary, very expensive but a not-so-glamorous part of running an urban municipality,” Nagoya stated.
“While we received some government funding to help, RUSC will need to debt finance part of the facility and, ultimately, there will be an impact on utility rates as RUSC must recover its costs.”
Technology
The centerpiece of this endeavor is the adoption of innovative technology known as a moving bed bio-reactor. This process employs millions of small polyethylene media to foster biofilm growth, maximizing the treatment efficiency.
Aeration keeps the media suspended in the wastewater, facilitating optimal biofilm performance. Through this method, the new plant aims to significantly reduce biochemical oxygen demand and effectively break down harmful chemicals, according to information from the City of Cold Lake.
The decision to embrace the moving bed bio-reactor technology stemmed from its proven effectiveness and cost efficiency, according to the City. Leveraging the existing plant's infrastructure, the new facility promises streamlined operations and maintenance compared to traditional treatment processes.
Given the high organic load of the nearby Beaver River, into which the treated effluent is discharged, stringent quality standards must be met. To ensure compliance with evolving environmental regulations, a pilot project validated the efficacy of the treatment method.
The success of this pilot has garnered attention nationwide, with other municipalities in similar climate zones considering its adoption.
The urgency for this upgrade stems from the inability of the current system to meet regulatory requirements. Consequently, RUSC has operated under a temporary extension, according to the City.
