On Monday, June 23, North Glengarry council approved a contract with Bishop Water Inc. to fully de-sludge the Alexandria Lagoon, ahead of planned infrastructure upgrades. The $1,030,937 contract was originally budgeted as part of the larger lagoon reconstruction project.
Municipal staff explained that the township would not incur additional costs for awarding the contract, as the amount was included under the project’s planning and contingency funds.
Earlier estimates based on sonar survey results and historical data projected costs at approximately $1.5 million. The revised proposal from Bishop Water Inc. came in at $469,063 below the original amount, resulting in savings of 31.27 per cent.
In 2017, sludge buildup caused ammonia issues, identifying the need for a lagoon cleanout as part of the redesign requirements. The township has been annually desludging the lagoon with Bishop Water Inc. for approximately $150,000 since 2022.
Staff explained that in 2024, it was apparent that the annual desludging contract was insufficient, only removing approximately five per cent of the total buildup per year.
Council was informed that years of sludge buildup in the lagoon must be removed before the next stage in the construction process. Delays could push the project beyond its late-2027/early-2028 completion date.
Staff recommended awarding the contract to Bishop Water Inc., which already had an existing contract with the township. Under the new contract, the company will provide a full cleanout of 32,850 cubic metres of sludge at a cost of approximately $30 per cubic metre.
The township could face fines from federal environmental agencies due to the detrimental impact on fish and wildlife at the site if the work is not completed. To complete the work, 15 Geotube dewatering units will be installed at the site to remove the accumulated sludge.
Council unanimously approved the contract without further discussion.
