After years of planning and construction, the City of Humboldt’s ambitious $40 million wastewater treatment system upgrade is entering its final stages, according to a progress update delivered to City Council on August 25.
“The finish line is now in sight, which is a fantastic thing,” said Peter Bergquist, Director of Public Works. “We’re quite happy with where everything’s at.”
One of the most significant milestones was reached recently with the first of the new large treatment cells now being filled with wastewater from the city’s old lagoon system. The other cells are expected to follow soon once sand ballast is in place. Additionally, the SAGR cells, another key component of the system, are nearing completion and will also begin filling shortly.
“The purpose is to get them filled before the winter,” Bergquist explained, “so the right bacteria can develop in the system.”
The city’s lift stations, including Lift 1 and 4, are also progressing steadily, with construction ongoing. Improvements on the lift stations were required to handle the anticipated increased capacity given Humboldt’s projected growth
Beyond construction, the city received a financial boost through an increase in provincial and federal funding. Bergquist announced that Humboldt will receive an additional $2,039,236 through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP), easing the financial burden on the municipality.
“That’s pretty significant,” said Bergquist. “We were going to be taking on about $15 million in costs for the city’s portion, and this new funding represents about a 13% savings.”
In total, Humboldt is now set to receive approximately $27 million in combined provincial and federal contributions toward the project.
Bergquist concluded his update by emphasizing the importance of this development for Humboldt’s long-term infrastructure needs, noting the substantial support received from higher levels of government.
City Council members expressed appreciation for the update and the progress being made on one of the city’s largest infrastructure undertakings to date.