After close to two hours of explanations -- and some heated exchanges, Southshore residents last week gave their municipal representatives thumbs up to proceed with a wastewater system that is expected to cost millions.
“We have been struggling with this across the municipality,” Reeve Sheila Foley told the 70 or so residents who showed up at the Southshore complex. “But either we do it, or our children do it.”
Residents heard the province is forcing municipalities to become vigilant about watching where their sewer is going. And it’s put Southshore communities under the microscope because they’re perched on the shore of the third largest lake in Alberta – and could have the greatest impact on the lake if their sewer lines aren’t kept in check.
The Municipal District of Lesser Slave River has been working with Associated Engineering officials for more than a year to research the proposed system, explained the M.D.’s director of public works. In fact, the province rejected some of their earlier and less-expensive proposals, said George Snider.
At the same time, however, the Southshore communities’ unique location made the M.D. eligible for some generous grants from provincial and the federal governments, he said. Those will help cushion the financial blow to residents and the municipality in general, he added. But only if the M.D. is allowed to proceed in the next few months.
The system could cost upwards if $9 million, he said, with the municipality and its residents expected to pick up one third of the tab. The project cost could be much lower, he admitted. Officials are proposing a system that uses grinder-pumps in septic tanks to push sewage down the line to the treatment facility. A concerted effort is important, and that’s why the M.D. will insist that everyone along the sewer line ties into the line and has a similar grinder pump in their septic tanks.
Voices were strained and questions got a little more demanding when those in attendance heard the system might cost as much as $7,500 per property owner – plus a monthly charge for sewage treatment.
Others, however, urged the naysayers to consider the advantages of a municipal system. “These costs are high end,” Snider added, “and we hope to bring a lot of the costs down – some are as low as $4,500 per lot.”
And when the voices continued to get louder, Southshore Councillor Karl Gongos stood up. “Let’s not attack (Snider),” he urged. “We’re being forced to do this and this is the best system for ratepayers.”
And while suggestions that even owners of vacant lots will be expected to chip in caused voices to reach earlier levels, more level heads reminded their counterparts that the province is forcing the change “that’s got to happen.
“We’ve got naysayers, but one way or another, it’s going to come in. Let’s just go for it, because I don’t want my (effluent) running out of the yard and into the lake,” said one. Asked when the new charges will hit the tax rolls, Snider said it’ll happen as the project proceeds.
In other words, Canyon Creek utility users could see the charges as early as next year, but those in Widewater and Wagner could be spared until 2005 or 2006.

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