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Water treatment facility project in Prince Rupert enters first phase

Prince Rupert seeks proposals for assessment of water quality supply and treatment options
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Requests for proposals for the first stage of a water treatment facility project have been issued by the City of Prince Rupert on Oct. 26. (Photo: K-J Millar/The Northern View)

A request for proposals to start the development of a new water treatment facility was issued by the City of Prince Rupert on Oct. 26.

“This first step towards a new water treatment facility will see the selected proponent assess our water supply system as well as the specific qualities of our above-ground water supply, and provide a recommendation for treatment based on the properties of our local water,” the City said.

The water treatment project is expected to be fully completed by 2023, a media release issued by the City said, with the ground being broken on the project in early 2022.

READ MORE: City of Prince Rupert announces $22M for water treatment project

“Over the course of the last year, the City has been collecting water quality data and working with the Province to develop a clear path forward for the project,” the statement said.

Funding for the project has come from a near $22 million Investing in Canada Infrastructure grant funds in August of 2019. The project saw delays in the spring from COVID-19 domino effect which impacted all levels of government.

“As we move into the fall and winter, project activities with Provincial oversight have resumed, and the City is pleased to see the project advancing,” the City said. Still to come, in the second step of the water treatment facility project, will be to identify an appropriate location for the facility and also contract out a design. This will include a municipal and provincial efficiency review as well as the approval of designs, plus the award of a construction contract.

“Although the exact form of treatment is not yet known, the end result will be a water treatment facility with multiple barriers of treatment that will replace our current single-barrier of treatment, and will serve the community for generations to come,” the City said.

The water treatment facility is the third phase in a multi-phase over-arching Water Infrastructure Capital Replacement plan.

Phase One of the capital replacement plan was the burial of a portion of the major water supply line to Woodworth Lake as well as the construction of an access road to the dam. This phase was was completed in 2018.

Currently in progress is Phase Two which is the replacement of the City’s 100 year old dam. This project is approximately 20 per cent through its construction and will be finished by the end of 2021, the City said.

READ MORE: Budget is dam good!


 K-J Millar | Journalist 
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