Town sewer project nearing completion

By Ken Johnston
Editor

While it is not quite done, Rainy River can see the light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to fixing its long time sewer system woes.
In the 1990s the town was slapped with a stoppage order by the Ministry of Environment for any new construction that would tie into the existing sewer system. Town officials worked diligently to try and reduce infiltration to the system in hopes of having to avoid building another cell at the existing sewer lagoon property just north of town. However, after much effort it was determined that a third lagoon would have to be added.
Then the funding dance with the provincial and federal governments began. Twice the town was turned down by the COMRIF program.
When Mayor Deb Ewald was sworn into office in 2006 she said, “I want it dealt with one way or another. We will push government at both levels for help.” Council’s efforts paid off with the announcement of funding for the new lagoon, a new forced main and a new lift station.
Last winter work in putting the force main was undertaken and this past summer work on the third lagoon cell was done. The new cell is 382.47 m long and 151.83 m wide. It is larger than the old cells, which also had to be upgraded.
Town Foreman Bob Jenson, who oversaw the aforementioned construction to date, said, “The regulations have changed since they (the old ones) were built.” When constructed they only had to have four months storage capacity. Now it is six months. Jenson noted the old ones have had their berms raised 400 mm.
The new lagoon seems immense when one stands on its berm. It is long, wide and deep. Jenson said, “We had to dig the bottom out down one meter and then put clay back in for a liner.
The cell is nearly ready to be connected to the new force main and once the new lift station is installed it will be connected to the system. Construction on the lift station is scheduled to be done in January. All that remains to be done is the piping in the cell, but they have to wait for colder weather to freeze the ground.
Jenson noted that the old force main will remain as a back up with one pump and the new one will be connected to two pumps. “There will be no reason for us to pump sewage into the river anymore.” At present if there is a heavy rainfall they have to pump overflow into the river to avoid causing sewer backups into people’s homes.
Jenson said that once the new cell is connected the old ones will be disconnected so that further upgrades can be made to them. “If all goes well that will be in the spring,” he explained.
If all goes well next summer could see Rainy River eligible for a lifting of the MOE order and may finally be in position to grow again.
Public Works Chairman Gerry Marchuk said, “Council is very pleased with the work that the crew and the extra help did. We have come in on budget and the project has provided several jobs for local men.”
Both Jenson and Marchuk acknowledged that other work in the community suffered a bit, taking a backseat to the sewer project. “We are catching up now,” said Jenson last Thursday.