West St. Paul is proud to be able to implement permanent sewage infrastructure that will protect both human and environmental health as the municipality continues to grow.
Background
The new wastewater infrastructure currently being constructed has connected West St. Paul to the City of Winnipeg’s wastewater treatment system, permanently addressing persistent health issues in the community, including bacteria-contaminated water.
Following extensive study by the RM and external engineers, Council agreed to pursue connection to the City of Winnipeg sewer system which was found to be the most cost-effective means to adequately treat wastewater from West St. Paul, both in terms of construction and long-term maintenance and operation.
The new sewer system replaces several localized wastewater treatment plants in the RM that are out of compliance with current provincial regulatory requirements. It will also provide sewer service to families and businesses that are currently subject to restrictions on septic field modification or construction under the Red River Corridor designation.
Once completed, the new sewer will be able to service more than 6,000 homes, which includes every existing household and business in the RM, plus significant capacity for future growth. All residents in our growing municipality will directly benefit from the project and will be able to connect to the new sewer line in either present or future phases as they are approved with Federal and Provincial cost sharing agreements.
Project Funding
The cost of the new main sewer trunk line is approximately $14.5 million. This includes the design, engineering and construction of the main sewer line that will eventually service all residents. Roughly two-thirds of the cost, $10 million, is being funded through grants secured by the RM through the federal and provincial governments to reduce the financial impact on West St. Paul homeowners.
The remaining municipal portion ($4.5 million) will be paid through a combination of surplus land sales, sewer levies on new development and tax revenue. The RM’s work to raise revenues from other levels of government and through non-tax sources mean that West St. Paul residents will contribute only approximately $20 per year per $100,000 of assessed property value towards the Main Street trunk sewer.
Residents will not encounter any fees related to the Main Street trunk sewer in 2016. Council continues to reduce costs for individual households by pursuing opportunities such as land sales, implementing a sewer reserve as well as the memorandum of understanding with the RM of St. Andrews.