Winnipeg councillor wants to know cost for city to 'go it alone' on sewer upgrades

A Winnipeg councillor wants to know how much more households might have to pay on their water and waste fees if the city goes ahead without federal or provincial help with upgrades meant to cut down on raw sewage spills.

Storms and spring runoff cause hundreds of sewage spills into Winnipeg rivers from the city's combined sewers every year. 

In 2021, there were 910 events, which sent 10,000 megalitres of untreated sewage into the city's waterways, according to the latest annual report on the city's combined sewer overflow project. The following year, there were 2,046 events, with 27,000 megalitres spilled, largely due to increased rainfall.

City council has set a target date of 2045 for increasing the amount of combined sewer overflows captured to 85 per cent from 75 per cent. 

The report, however, made reference to an earlier city estimate that predicted the project could take until 2095 without federal or provincial funding. 

WATCH: Winnipeg sewer overflows more than doubled last year: report

Sewer overflows more than doubled in 2022, city report says

1 year ago

Duration 1:04

Increased sewage overflows have a Winnipeg councillor wondering how much household bills for water and waste might go up if the city does treatment plant upgrades without federal or provincial help.

At Thursday's meeting of city council's committee on water, waste and the environment, Coun. Brian Mayes questioned staff about why the later target date remained in the report. Water and waste director Tim Shanks assured him city staff were working toward completing the project on the earlier timeline set by council.

"We don't have 70 years worth of work here," Shanks said in the meeting. 

"There's a lot of work, but it's 27 years worth of work."

The long-term scenario was meant to give a picture of how the city would raise the funds itself, if needed, Shanks said.

The committee passed a motion from Mayes ordering a report on what it would cost the city to complete the work by 2045.

Mayes said he wants the information before the city heads into discussions about rate increases later this year.

Council will "have that debate anyway" about how to fund mega-projects such as the combined sewer overflow project and the North End sewage treatment plant, Mayes told reporters after the meeting. 

"So I want this to be part of that debate. How much more per household would it cost for us to go it alone as a city and get this [combined sewer overflow] program done by 2045?" he said.

Mayes estimated it could be as high as $100 per household.

The city report gives a cost range for the project of between $1.15 billion and $2.3 billion. Mayes has questioned the accuracy of the higher number, and ordered the cost estimate to be based on the lower figure.

That report is expected in November.