Two new apartment buildings in South Porcupine would decrease the sewer capacity in that area by one per cent, according to a City of Timmins report.
The report on the agenda for tomorrow's council meeting provides five potential solutions for concerns about the infrastructure.
"Although all proper design guidelines have been followed, there is always a potential for any sanitary sewer system to be overwhelmed during high-intensity storms," reads the report.
"The city is aggressively rehabilitating its sewer infrastructure. It must be noted that this is a long-term objective. This report demonstrates that infill development can occur with minimal adverse effect when combined with sewer rehabilitation as well as flow reduction measures."
Last month, a zoning change was approved for 185 Crawford St. to allow for Praztek Construction to build two, three-storey buildings with six apartments each on the lot. The applicant will still need a site plan control agreement approved by council for the development.
Infrastructure is one of the concerns of residents in the neighbourhood.
At the last council meeting, Coun. Joe Campbell said he'd received over 20 emails from residents concerned about the development. One of the people reaching out asked about the sewage flows being a Ministry of Environment issue. Campbell asked for a report on the plan to resolve the issues at this week's meeting.
Sewage capacity is a concern in South Porcupine and Porcupine because when the system is exceeded, raw sewage is pumped into Porcupine Lake.
A two-phase project to remediate the system started in 2014.
Upgrades to the mechanical, electrical and instrumentation systems, along with other work, at the remaining five pump stations was completed in 2020.
Ground-settling and legal issues have contributed to work at Pumping Station 4 not being completed yet. The Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks recently extended the deadline for the city to meet the requirements of a provincial director's order for the facility to Jan. 28, 2022. The extra time is to allow the city to detect and repair leaks to the tanks, repair pump equipment and commission the pumping station and equalization tanks.
The new apartment buildings are in sewer shed three, according to the report at this week's council meeting.
"The current sewer capacity was determined using the MOE (Ministry of Environment) current design guidelines, which take into account sewage flow, infiltration and foundation drains," reads the report.
Right now, the sewer capacity is 54 per cent. The new apartments would decrease the capacity by one per cent, with the remaining capacity being 53 per cent, according to the report.
It notes that for infiltration, with global warming a rise in the intensity and frequency of storms, aging infrastructure and foundation drains being connected to the sanity sewer system — there is the "potential for the sanitary system to be overwhelmed."
To reduce additional inflow, engineering is proposing five possible solutions:
- lining the existing sewer mains
- lining of services and manhole rehabilitation
- installing manhole inflow protectors
- introducing a residential inflow and infiltration subsidy program
- introducing a water efficiency bylaw
No decisions on the report have been made. The full report can be read here.
Timmins council meets Tuesday, Nov. 9 at 6 p.m. in council chambers at city hall. You can watch the meeting live here.
