February 11, 2010

FOCUS | Water & wastewater

Construction blitz aimed at improving First Nations water

PETER KENTER

correspondent

A federal government plan to build 18 water and wastewater infrastructure projects in First Nations communities across Canada is well underway, with nine projects under construction and another five scheduled to commence by March.

Funding for the projects totals $165 million with $75 million on the books for 2009-10.

“The government is moving forward with all of the 18 water and wastewater projects and making progress,” says Margot Geduld of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.

“For instance, construction for the Chateh Water Treatment Plant for Dene Tha’ First Nation in Alberta is well underway, with 35 per cent of construction to be completed by this year. This project is proceeding on budget and is ahead of schedule.”

Other projects under construction include:

• A new water intake piping system for the community of Natuashish, Labrador, which will supply water from a nearby river to a pumping station. Scheduled completion: January 2011.

• A new mechanical sewage treatment plant in the Innu community of Sheshatshiu, Labrador. Scheduled completion: December 2010.

• A new sludge system in the First Nation community of Wagmatcook, Nova Scotia, replacing the existing stabilization pond. Scheduled completion: December 2010.

• Water treatment and reservoir capacity expansion in the Kahnawake First Nation in Quebec. Scheduled completion: November 2010.

• A new sewage lagoon in the Black Lake First Nation, Saskatchewan. Scheduled completion: November 2010.

Two Ontario projects form part of the federally-funded construction blitz.

Plans for construction of a $10-million water supply and treatment plant near Brantford are on the books for the Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation.

“The Six Nations water treatment plan is still in the early stages of planning,” says Geduld. “We’re expecting construction to begin in Fall 2010.”

Construction has already commenced on a $20-million water treatment plant for the community of Moose Deer Point First Nation, located approximately 30 kilometres south of Parry Sound. The construction portion of the contract was awarded to Timmins-based Leo Alarie and Sons Ltd., a subsidiary of Aecon.

The company has been on site since last October and began construction in December.

“The construction portion of the contracts is worth about $14 million,” says Greg Vaillancourt, Division Manager of Engineered Construction with Leo Alarie and Sons.

“We’re building a water treatment plant, elevated water storage tank, 10 kilometres of water main and four kilometres of water service over a fairly large area.”

The project will connect three parcels of land, which are separated by a wildlife nature reserve.

“The biggest challenge on the project is very tight access for construction of the water main,” says Vaillancourt. “We’re working on very narrow rural roads and small residential roads and all of the excavation involves blasting. This contract involves drilling and blasting 30,000 cubic metres of rock, with the pipe trenches going down about eight feet.”

Winter weather has also been challenging.

“In December we got killed with 20 inches of snow in a single day,” says Vaillancourt. “Although the ground is very wet, we’ve had a good January so we’re on schedule to complete construction by spring 2011.”

In 2006, the federal government identified 193 high-risk water systems in First Nations communities. That number has currently been reduced to 48.

“In addition, 21 communities were identified as priorities,” with water-quality and boil-water advisories, says Geduld.

“Today, after considerable construction activity, there are only four communities on that list.”

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