$61M to fix Eastern Passage sewage plant

The sewage treatment plant in Eastern Passage needs a $61-million upgrade to meet environmental standards, the Halifax Water Commission says.

"Essentially the plant is too small to service the area that it is presently servicing, so it regularly overflows and is not compliant," Halifax Water spokesman James Campbell told CBC News Monday.

That means Halifax Water will apply to increase water rates in order to pay for the upgrade, he said.

In an application to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board to approve the project, the commission said its Eastern Passage plant did not meet provincial effluent standards in 2009 and 2010.

The plant has exceeded discharge levels for fecal coliform, suspended solids and biological oxygen demand.

"Over the last several years flows and loads…caused by an increased population and the significant effect of storm water inflow and infiltration, frequently exceeded the existing treatment capacity of the plant and, thus, was routinely unable to meet effluent quality requirements stipulated in the operating permit issued by Nova Scotia Environment," Halifax Water wrote to the UARB.

Nova Scotia's Department of Environment said it has "requested an explanation" from the water commission for the non compliance by this Friday.

"We are aware of the issue. We will assess how we proceed when we get their explanation for why compliance was not met," spokeswoman Jodi Sibley told CBC News.

The utility recently raised water rates for residential customers in Halifax by 27 per cent.

It said it will apply to raise rates again when construction of the new facilty is complete in about two years time.

"It is a $61-million project, so there will certainly be an increase in rates. What that request will be, we don't know right now," Campbell said.

The Eastern Passage plant was built in 1974 to serve about 18,000 people. It is now treating sewage and waste water from an area with 38,000 people.

The upgrades are designed to accommodate another 12,000 people and is expected to have a 25-year life span.

"It's going to upgrade capacity and technology," Campbell said.

Halifax Water has struggled with pollution discharge in recent years. Brand new sewage plants in Dartmouth and Halifax have experienced problems.

The Dartmouth plant failed to meet standards, and the $55-million Halifax plant was disabled in January 2009 when a power failure caused catastrophic flooding just weeks after the city took ownership.

It took 18 months and about $10 million to repair that plant.