Following discussions by the Council of the Municipality of Bluewater at its regular meeting of Council on November 18th, the Municipality has engaged a contractor to complete the expansion of the Bayfield Wastewater Treatment Facility.

Council accepted the tender from Finnbuilt General Contracting for $11,169,486 including HST. The Municipality received eight bids as part of the tendering process ranging in price from $11,169,486 to $14,011,963 inclusive of HST. Prices include a contingency of $500,000.

The Municipality of Bluewater has budgeted $11,434,500 to complete the project, which will be funded in part by a grant of $8,347,185 from the Province of Ontario’s Housing Enabling Water Systems Fund. The Fund supports development, enhancement or rehabilitation of water and wastewater infrastructure that supports housing growth. Additional funding for the project will come from development charges already collected specifically for the project by the Municipality and from the Municipality’s sewer reserve fund which will be paid back as future development charges are collected for Bayfield wastewater.

The original facility was built in 2001. It currently treats in excess of 1072m³/day putting it over the approved operating capacity allowed in the facility’s Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA). Expansion of the treatment facility is needed to meet the current and future capacity demands on the Bayfield wastewater treatment and collection system. Expansion will also ensure the facility continues to operate in a sustainable and environmentally responsible manner.

Bluewater Council previously approved the selection of a sequenced batch reactor (SBR) system to expand the facility treatment capacity to 1750 m³/day. SBR systems treat wastewater in batches through a series of steps designed to filter wastewater until it is purified and the effluent is safe to release.

The expansion of the facility is expected to enable upwards of 500 housing units—both new and additional residential units—in the community, filling a need for homes in the area and helping to meet provincial and federal housing targets.

CAO Laurie Spence Bannerman said, “Staff have continued to work hard to get this project to this point. With the substantial Provincial grant and the award of this tender we are set to move forward. We encourage developers and builders to contact the municipal Development Services office now to discuss plans for building in Bayfield.”

Work on the facility is expected to begin in the spring of 2025. The Municipality encourages residents to keep informed by checking the municipal website, social media platforms and newsletters for updates.

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