Firm retained to manage project to end sewage plant odours

Posted October 17, 2012

Dillon Consulting has been awarded New Tecumseth's engineering consulting contract to "undertake the preliminary design, detailed design, construction contract tendering, contract administration and construction inspection, start up and commissioning for the upgrades of the Alliston WWTP and associated works" at a tendered cost of $427,089 and a $38,826 contingency.

These works include improvements to the headworks biosolid handing system and standby power and will address the odour problems and reducing amonia levels at facility.

While the purpose is to accommodate additional flows from new residential development, ending the periodic stench that blankets Alliston's east end from the STP located on Sir Frederick Banting Road, immediately north of Victoria Street. The Town was scheduled to fix the odour problem in 2011, but put that off 'to allow for an overall review of a broader nature that would improve its efficiencies to its maximum capacities - "re-rate the plant to treat flows higher than the current design capacity."

Estimated total project cost is $3 million, including about $1.8 million to upgrade the headworks - the intake source of raw sewage, which is deemed to be the source of smell.

"The comminutor (a machine that pulverizes solids) will be replaced with mechanically cleaned bar screens," according to the April report to council. "The odours produced from the wastewater in the influent and effluent channels at the headworks and grit tank will be contained by an odour removal system. The off-gases from the existing aerobic digester/aerated holding tank should also be directed to the odour control facility to reduce odour emissions from that source. At the time that the design of the new headworks building is done, the hydraulics through the plant should be re-assessed to ensure that the firm pumping capacity of the sewage pumping stations does not exceed the plant hydraulic capacity."

Construction is expected to take place in 2013.

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