Essa balks at sharing water services

By Brad Pritchard Innisfil Journal Apr 26, 2012 

ESSA TWP. – Essa Township is flushing Simcoe County’s notion of allowing other municipalities to tap into its sewage infrastructure.

The township’s stance is in response to a study commissioned by the county, the Water and Wastewater Visioning Strategy, which identifies water/wastewater service gaps across county’s 16 municipalities and suggests opportunities where to expand these services.

The study proposes the sewage systems in Essa, along with Canadian Forces Base Borden, could be expanded into neighbouring municipalities of New Lowell and Everett where the infrastructure is lacking.

The study suggests the Angus wastewater treatment facility, which is under capacity and is expected to remain this way even over the next 20 years of growth, could be expanded into these growing communities.

According to a report prepared by CAO Greg Murphy, the township isn’t prepared to share its services.

Murphy notes the municipality has been able to plan, build and maintain a system that meets provincial standards without taking on “significant” debt while still being affordable for residents.

Since the system was built to service the current and future needs of its own residents, especially in the growing community of Angus, the township is against expanding the system to residents living in Clearview and Adjala-Tosorontio.

New Lowell is expected to grow by another 2,380 people in the next 20 years, which will put more demand for water service. The hamlet currently lacks wastewater service.

Everett meanwhile will see significant growth in the next 20 years and beyond. As it stands the community has one sewer service in its New Horizon subdivision with a capacity of 400 people.

Construction and engineering costs to run new sewage lines into these communities would cost an estimated $30.5 million.