Options 'pretty limited': Charlottetown will take Stratford sewage

The City of Charlottetown has agreed to accept Stratford's wastewater for treatment, saying there was really no other choice.

Charlottetown city council passed a resolution unanimously Thursday evening, which stated that the city would continue to work with Stratford.

Stratford town council voted two months ago to build a new treatment plant of its own, rather than pump its waste to Charlottetown to be treated at the facility there.

But those plans had to be reconsidered when a month later Premier Wade MacLauchlan said the province would not approve funding for a new plant. The town had expected the province would pay 25 per cent of the cost, with 50 per cent of the funding from the federal government, and the town footing the other 25 per cent of the bill.

Cooperation has benefits

Charlottetown Coun. EddieRice, chair of the city's water and sewer utility committee,said the city was only really presented with one option: to follow the request from the province to treat Stratford's wastewater.

"It's the only thing the federal and provincial government will look at for funding, so the options were pretty limited," said Rice.

But Rice thinks cooperation between the two municipalities can work to both of their advantages.

The money from Stratford will contribute to the necessary upgrades to the system. Rice pointed out that with with development planned for the East Royalty area of Charlottetown, the city's waste treatment demands will be greater, and those upgrades will be even more urgently needed.

"It's important that we have proper sewage treatment for the area, lagoons gone, and that we have an upgrade in our plant. Those are the two significant things to us," said Rice.

Long-term thinking

Rice said the cooperation between the municipalities can also be beneficial for Stratford.

In addition to having its water treated, Rice said the cooperation between the municipalities could be helpful down the road.

To keep it upgraded, and to keep it operating is a costly affair. And I think in the long run it'll be a win-win.- Charlottetown Coun. EddieRice

"Gosh knows we may even have to hook Stratford up and take water from them someday. So it's a tit for tat thing," said Rice.

While part of the reason Stratford council originally voted to build its own facility was because it was slated to be less costly than sending the waste to Charlottetown, Rice pointed out that with operating its own plant, there would be more costs down the road.

"To keep it upgraded, and to keep it operating, is a costly affair. And I think in the long run it'll be a win-win for Charlottetown and Stratford, I hope."

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