Katz vows to fight province on sewage treatment

Winnipeg's mayor says he is prepared to shout from the corner of Portage Avenue and Main Street in the New Year to change the province's stance on sewage treatment requirements.

Sam Katz says the province's position on sewage treatment is not only bad science but also a waste of money.

The city is overhauling its sewage treatment facilities and the Manitoba government is ordering the removal of both nitrogen and phosphorous from effluent.

'I'm not going to sit around and let someone flush [that money] down the toilet. That's not going to happen.' Mayor Sam Katz

Many scientists say nitrogen removal is not necessary to protect the environment, according to Katz.

The cost to the city to install the equipment would cost an estimated $350 million, he said.

"I'm not letting go of the nitrogen one. This is just the beginning just the beginning," he said. "I'm not going to sit around and let someone flush [that money] down the toilet. That's not going to happen."

Dwight Williamson, director of the Water Science and Management Branch for Manitoba Water Stewardship, agreed that scientists are not unanimous on whether nitrogen removal is necessary. Some believe removing only phosphorous is good enough, he said.

"[But] we don't hold that view. There will be environmental benefits from the removal of nitrogen," he insisted.

The dispute is expected in the New Year as budget time approaches in March. Katz wants to continue Winnipeg's property tax freeze in 2010, which would make it the 13th consecutive year.

Saving millions of dollars on sewage treatment would make that a much easier goal, Katz has said.