The Winnipeg city council in Canada has initiated a significant $1-billion sewage treatment project. Recently, the council’s water, waste, and environment committee awarded a $95-million contract to Red River Biosolids Partners, a group of construction companies.
This contract pertains to the design and development of the next phase of enhancements at the North End Water Pollution Control Centre, which is the largest of the city’s three sewage treatment facilities.
The goal of this project is to convert partially treated sludge from all three of Winnipeg’s sewage treatment plants into nutrient-dense fertilizer. The approved design contract is a crucial step before construction, which is estimated to require an additional $900 million.
Red River Biosolids Partners was chosen following recommendations from engineers in the water and waste department, who preferred their proposal over one from a consortium led by Graham Infrastructure and PCL Constructors Canada.
Councillor Brian Mayes (St. Vital), who chairs the committee, was the only member to vote against the decision. He advocated for a more cautious approach, proposing that the decision be deferred until the city appointed a construction advisor, a position Mayor Scott Gillingham had pledged to create during his 2022 campaign. After the committee’s vote, Mayes highlighted the necessity of making well-informed choices on such major projects.
“We’re bringing on a chief construction officer to guide council members on large construction endeavors. There’s nothing larger than this,” Mayes remarked about the $1-billion project. “I’m not hesitant to make decisions, but I prefer to do so with the most accurate information available.”
Source :Canadian Broadcasting Radio (CBC)
