At the November 28 meeting, council agreed to replace the entire forcemain located underneath Highway 34 in Vankleek Hill. Numerous breaks and problems have plagued this section of pressurized sewage piping over the past six years, with costs adding up for Champlain Township.
The Vankleek Hill Sewage Pumping Station No. 2 (SPS2) and 432 metres of forcemain along Highway 34 was installed in 1967. Five separate forcemain breaks along SPS2 have occurred over recent years. Three have occurred this year in March, June, and October.
More breaks are expected to occur in this section, becoming more frequent as time goes on, and adding additional budgetary constraints for constant repairs. Replacing the entire forcemain will prevent the likelihood of breaks for the next 50 years.
The cost of the replacement for the entire forcemain will cost Champlain Township $889,011.81, excluding taxes. This works out to an average of $2,029.71 per metre of the 432-metre forcemain. Expenses include the contractor cost, engineering design, and administration fees.
Councillor Paul Emile Duval inquired about potential grants to help offset costs associated with the replacement project.
Council was told that no grants were available for this specific project, as it does not meet the requirements of similar infrastructure grants.
Mayor Normand Riopel stated that the replacement project is something that “needs to be done.”
No date for tendering the project or construction start date has been determined.
