Magrath borrowing funds for West Lift Station Project

Posted on November 21, 2024 by admin

By Heather Cameron
Southern Alberta Newspapers
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Town of Magrath Council held a recent Public Hearing regarding Bylaw 1309 – Borrowing Bylaw – West Lift Station Project.

According to a presentation the Town of Magrath shared at the Public Hearing about why the Lift Station is needed, the Lift Station will service the west side of town with a deep gravity sewer. A wastewater lift station, the presentation explained, is a ‘crucial part of a sewage collection system that helps move wastewater from a lower to a higher elevation, and using a lift station is cost-effective compared to extensive excavation for sewer pipes.’

Since sewer pipes are buried underground on a slope digging deeper and deeper, the presentation explained, the trenches become cost prohibitive, so installing lift stations at strategic points allows a system to minimize construction costs without compromising efficiency. Wastewater, the presentation explained, travels through sloped pipelines using gravity to keep costs low, but when wastewater needs to move from a lower elevation to a higher one, gravity alone won’t work, and a lift station would pump the wastewater upwards through a pressurized force main system, ensuring it can continue flowing towards the lagoon.

The Town of Magrath highlighted the project as a ‘major infrastructure step for the future growth and development of the area.’ 

The station, the Town states, will open the door for new housing, businesses, and amenities to be developed on the west side of Magrath, and will also help the Town manage wastewater more efficiently by distributing flows through different pipeline routes, reducing the risk of sewer backups during heavy rainfalls.

The presentation also explained that the West Lift Station Project has multiple phases with Phase 1 being the Lift Station and Phase 2 being future service line expansions. Phase 1, the presentation stated, will include the construction of the lift station and lines to connect it to existing services and the cost of this phase is estimated to be $1 million. Phase 2, on the other hand, the presentation stated, stated that once Phase 1 has been completed, the installation of lines can be completed with developer contributions to expand the service network as needed and the approximate cost to install a block of gravity sewer line is between $70,000 and $120,000 depending on various factors such as pipe size, depth, and ground conditions. 

Financing for Phase 1 of the Project, the presentation stated, will be made possible through Bylaw 1309 – Borrowing Bylaw – West Lift Station Project and that bylaw received approval for first reading by Council on September 10, 2024, via a motion made by Councillor Zaugg

During the public hearing for Bylaw 1309 – Borrowing Bylaw – West Lift Station Project, Magrath residents Wilhelm Martens, Bradley Shaw, Louellen Lee, and Katie Selk attended the Public Hearing to hear the presentation with some asking questions about how the planned development of the West Side Sewer Lift Station will affect their properties. The Council responded by informing them that the project’s scope in Phase 1 was to build the lift station and that additional sewer line development would be part of future phases but was not part of this phase. 

“Phase 1 is building and connecting the lift station to the existing network,” explained James Suffredine, Chief Administrative Officer for the Town of Magrath. “Once Phase 1 is complete, then at that point property owners desiring to develop their lands will be able to discuss main line extensions with the Town as future phases.”

Councillor Bourelle then made a motion to adjourn the Public Hearing and the motion was carried. Following that, Councillor Baril made a motion that Council approve second reading of Bylaw 1309 – Borrowing Bylaw – West Lift Station and the motion was carried. Councillor Bourelle then made a motion that Council approve third reading of Bylaw 1309 – Borrowing Bylaw – West Lift Station and the motion was carried.

Construction on Phase 1 of the West Lift Station Project is due to begin in Spring or Summer 2025, Suffredine says.