New $5.9M sewage plant will support future growth in Whycocomagh and We'koqma'q

Two rural communities in Nova Scotia's Inverness County are getting a new sewage system pegged at$5.8 million.

The cost of replacing the existing Whycocomagh sewage plant, which ismore than four decades old and also services the We'koqma'q First Nation, is being shared among three levels of government.

"It will be a full rebuild on land adjoining the current site,"said Inverness CAO Keith MacDonald. "We're working to ensure everything is ready to go forward to a construction phase."

MacDonaldsaid design work is underway, but research is needed to determine the required capacity of waste disposal.

The current plant averages a capacity of 773 cubic metres of waste per day.

Reaching maximum capacity

MacDonald said there are times, like during major storms, when water runoff has nearly overflowed thesewage system.

"We have to look at population projections," MacDonald said of the design planning. "It's a balancing act between forecasting future demands."

The treatment plant received its last major upgrade nearly 30 years ago, and most people living inWhycocomagh and We'koqma'qrely onit for their waste disposal.

Officialssay the project will support any further housing or business developmentswithin both communities.

"The vision of We'koqma'q is to improve the overall quality of life and well-being of all community members," saidChief Annie Bernard-Daisley of the We'koqma'q First Nation.

"We know that this aligns with our vision and will be a transformative change for the community."

New plant to be running by March 2024

Project partners say design for thereplacement plant, whichwill feature ultraviolet disinfection of bacteria and a backup generator for power outages,will wrap in January 2022. The building is expected to be operational by March 2024.

Inverness is contributing $1.5 million to the project, while the province is chipping inclose to $2 million. The remaining $2.3 million will come from Ottawa.

MacDonald said that once the switchover is completed, the former plant will be decommissioned.At this time, there is no projected lifespan for the new facility.

Other improvements needed

Whycocomagh and We'koqma'q are not the only two places in Inverness Countyin need of a sewage upgrade.

Nova Scotia's Environment Department issued fines to Inverness County for stench and high levels of bacteria coming from its system within thetown of Inverness in the summer of 2019.

Deputy Warden Bonny MacIsaac said Inverness and Judique are in desperate need of sewage upgrades.

"It's one down, so we're just going from there," said MacIsaac."Now we can start working and hopefully [get some] good news for the other communities."

MacIsaac said the age of the systems andpopulation growth are two of the biggest issues driving the need for sewage upgrades.

Inverness officials say thereason the Whycocomaghproject was put ahead of Inverness was because it was further along in the planning process.