Innisfil water supply expansions on display

By Chris Simon Innisfil Scope
Two of the town’s water servicing issues were on display for residents recently.
Municipal staff hosted public information centres for the proposed Golf Haven water supply system, and Alcona’s Pump Station 3 wet well projects. Both projects are currently undergoing Environmental Assessments, to determine their feasibility.
The pump project would increase wastewater flows for the station, from 350 litres per second to about 450. It is necessary, to meet the growing demand on municipal services, from new and existing development in the Alcona area, said town wastewater superintendent Wesley Cyr.
“During storm events, we’re actually at or above hydraulic capacity,” he said. “We need to identify a solution to increase capacity at the station, whether it’s structural upgrade or increasing pump sizes. It’s a development motivated project; the more homes we build in that (area), the more flows you’ll get at that station. If we’re going to be building new development in Alcona, we’ll need to upgrade as soon as possible.”
While a cost has yet to be determined for the project, it could begin in 2010, said Cyr.
“At this point (the recommendation) is a pump upgrade; there are pumps at the station, and we’d upgrade all of them,” he said. “It would be a bigger pump, and we’re evaluating the existing piping, to make sure it will be sufficient.”
The Golf Haven system supplies water to about 100 homes in the Gilford area. It consists of two wells, an inground reservoir, and a pump station. However, the current system is unable to adequately supply enough water for properties and fire protection in the area. So, staff have reached an agreement with the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury, to provide storage capacity for the reservoir.
As part of the agreement, Innisfil would switch Golf Haven customers to the Alcona Lakeshore water system, while using the Bradford reservoir, said town engineer Grant Shellswell.
“We finally got an answer back from Bradford. Before we go to council, we (went) back to the public, to let them know where we are,” he said.
If approved by council, the Golf Haven project would cost the municipality about $2.1 million. However, it is the most realistic and inexpensive option available, said Shellswell.
“Out of all the alternatives we’ve looked at, switching the existing wells over to the Lakeshore supply was the best and most economical way of addressing that,” he said.
“If at some future time, the town was looking at expanding the distribution system and servicing everyone in Gilford, we’d have to re-look at it. As part of the overall picture, the reservoir being proposed for Lefroy would eventually service the Gilford community. But there’s a significant charge to get the water mains all the way to Gilford, so that’s very long range.”
Reports on both issues are expected to be presented to council at upcoming meetings