Sewage stink coming from Sydney Tar Ponds
By Tanya Collier MacDonald
Cape Breton Post
Thurs., Sept. 25, 2003
The putrid smell of raw sewage
permeating from the Sydney
tar ponds will likely continue
until there is a significant rainfall,
say officials.
"When everything is under
water it stops most of the
odour from emanating from
the site," said Mike MacKeigan,
utilities manager for the
Cape Breton Regional Municipality.
At least a foot of the shoreline
normally covered by water
is now exposed, he said. Hot
temperatures and prolonged
dry weather is adding to the
problent as well as a broken coffer
dam in the south pond that
has yet to be repaired. The
structure has a worn out seal
that has allowed water from the
site's south pond to seep out the
bottom since July. Contractors
are waiting for appropriate
tidal action so the work can be
carried out.
"Everything is against us in
terms of the smell, " said
Mackeigan.
Residents around the site as
well as those working nearby,
are being forced to endure the
stench until the next big rain
fall or the cold weather arrives,
he added.
Possible options are being
considered to keep the stink to
a minimum for next summer.
Those options are to keep
water at levels high enough to
cover the pond sediment or to
carefillly determine a chemical
additive that's biodegradable
and can neutralize the odour,
said MacKeigan.
As far as the new interceptor
sewer system redirecting
sewage from the tar ponds to
the harbour off Battery Point,
that will take at least another
year, he said. The interceptor
sewer is about 98 per cent complete
but more testing of the
new system is required over
the winter. And, once finished,
the $14-million system will
remain dormant for at least a
year.
A new sewage treatment
facility needs to be constructed
at the end of the sewer line at
Battery Point before the interceptor
sewer can operate.
Tenders for the plant are expected
in October, said MacKeigan
with tenders to be awarded
likely in November. Then
timeline for completion will be
finalized.
The municipality estimates
the sewage treatment facility
will be completed by November
of 2004, he said.
"That's still the optimistic
date we're looking for"
Until that time, 3.5 million
gallons of raw sewage and
water will continue to be
dumped into the tar ponds daily
"The end is in sight," he,
said. "It's very annoying at
times like this when the smell
is as repugnant as it is, but it's
more important to recognize
and be aware that we do have a
solution."
The sewage will be removed
from the Washbrook and the
tar ponds and it will be treated.
"We are making a long-term,
environmentally (sound)
decision in respect to this."
tcmacdonald@cbpost.com
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