Start contracting process for Regina sewage pumping station upgrades, committee says

The City of Regina's public works and infrastructure committee is recommending council approve hiringan engineering firm to plan upgrades at theMcCarthy Boulevard Sewage Pumping Station.

The province's Water Security Agency wants the station to be able to handle a one-in-25 year rainfall without having to bypass wastewater intoWascanaCreek by the end of 2020.

By the end of the current year, the infrastructureshould be able to handle the flow from a one-in-10 year rainfall.

The committee hasrequested $10 millionin the 2018 utility capital budget for the design and construction of the upgrades,with another $2 million requested in 2019 and 2020.

City council has to approve hiring consultants or other professionalswhen fees are to exceed $500,000. Thecost of theengineering design contractis estimated at between $1.5 million and $2 million.

Upgrade work would not start until 2018 but the committee says advance approval is needed so that the 2020 deadline can be met.

Two years ago, the citydischarged screened sewage into WascanaCreek after heavy rainfall to avoid backing up the city's sewers.

People who lived downstream were not happy.

While the upgrades will reduce the risk of having to discharge sewage into Wascana Creek, the possibility will remain if there is a significant overflow.