Elliot Lake City Council offered unanimous approval Monday night for a plan to get aging sewer and water lines out of Elliot Lake.
Director of Public Works Daryl Halloch asked council to commit nearly half a million dollars to attract a Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) Green Stream grant.
The federal and provincial money would be used to help pay the unfunded portion of the project which would see new water and sewer lines installed in the North Industrial area on Timber Road.
The city's share is projected to be up to $480,000, or 26.67 per cent of the eligible costs, which would commit the grant application.
In his report to Monday night's virtual council meeting, Halloch wrote, "The Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) is a Federal-Provincial infrastructure program.
"The government is investing more than $7.12 billion over 10 years and has most recently opened a second intake for the Green Stream with a deadline of Sept. 9, 2021.
"The city applied for stage 1, ICIP green stream funding in January of 2020 to replace both the water and sanitary lines under the lake located between Westview Park and the North Industrial area, which was not approved," he continued.
"The stage 2 application is requesting a project that involves the complete installation of approximately 1,200 metres of watermain and sanitary sewer pipe along Highway 108 from Timber Road south to Lakeview Drive.
"This would replace the current watermain and sanitary sewer pipe that is located under Elliot Lake from Westview Park to the North Industrial area, that was installed approximately 50 years ago," concluded Halloch.
He explained that the current watermain feed to the North Industrial area is close to failure now, resulting in continuous line breaks that have placed the North Industrial area under several boil water advisories. This leads to limited or halted water services as a result of the breaks.
In the last 10 years, the city has spent more than $100,000 to repair more than 12 breaks along the watermain. The work was done by specialty diving contractors. By installing the new lines along the Highway 108, the city will provide services to the MNR property, Miliken Mine Road (possible future connect), and the boat launch area where a washroom with running water and sewer hookup can be installed.
Halloch explained that replacing the existing main will reduce life cycle costs and allow the city to invest the savings from repairs elsewhere in the infrastructure, while supporting and attracting business in the industrial area.
"We're very lucky that with all the work we've done over the years that we haven't had a catastrophe that has cost us our drinking water," Coun. Chris Patrie said.
Coun. Norman Mann was assured that the new lines will be run with insulated water and sewer lines, and be located alongside both culverts under Highway 108 in the affected area.
The estimated budget for the project including contingency is $1.8 million. In accordance with the ICIP program guidelines, the funding breakdown is:
• Municipality: $480,060
• Provincial: $599,940
• Federal: $720,000
The project will cost an estimated $2,855,000 plus applicable taxes, broken down as: watermain (1,200m) including road excavation, engineering, contingency $1,800,000; and sanitary (1200m) $1,055,000.
If approved through the ICIP Green Stream, the city would be responsible for $480,060 (26.67 per cent of $1.8 million) plus the sanitary portion at $1,055,000 which isn’t covered by the funding. That totals $1,535,060 where $1,319,940 will be covered by funding.