Region's role in Nobleton sewers explained at open house
By Bill Rea

The new sewer system planned for Nobleton will include a number of innovations in the work done by York Region.

But a number of the roughly 150 people who attended last Wednesday's open house session hosted by the Region, had questions, on other issues, such as costs and who pays.

There was also controversy raised by a letter circulated by local council candidate Jeff Laidlaw, suggesting people attend and gain information about manditory hook-ups and the cost per household of connecting (Laidlaw stated it could be in excess of $12,000).

The session was really meant to update people on the progress that is being made, according to project manager Henry Verbruggen.

He explained the project includes the construction of a main pumping station, a plant to treat the sewage before it is discharged and a constructed wetland (roughly a third of an acre) to filter the outflow before it goes into the Humber River.

"There are no property issues to delay the project," Verbruggen commented.

The pumping station is slated to go at the end of Janet Street (at the southeast corner of the property containing parkland adjoining the local arena), and he said the building will basically be a smaller version of the new pumping station on the south side of King Road in King City. Pipes accessing the station will cross the property of Nobleton Junior Public School, and Verbruggen said the York Region District School Boards okayed that in principle.

Sewage from the whole community will drain down to the pumping station, according to Barry Knoll, an architect working on the project. From there, it will be sent through the forcemain to be installed along King Road to the treatment plant, near the 11th Concession to the south.

Verbruggen said the land for the treatment plant has been acquired by York, facilitated by Slokker Canada, which along with other developers is covering all of the costs for the treatment portion of the system.

Verbruggen said a pipe could go directly from the treatment station to the river, but the creation of the wetland means a more environmentally friendly way of dealing with the outflow. He added it will fit in with the local topography

Construction on the project is slated to start in the spring, and the Regional components should be completed sometime in 2008.

He added there will likely be a public meeting called early next year to address

the components King Township is responsible for, such as the local sanitation system. "I have nothing directly to do with that," Verbruggen said.

He did say no homes will be able to hook up to the system until the treatment plant is operational.

About 75 per cent of the design work is complete, Verbruggen said. "We're proceeding full-speed ahead."

Addressing some of the concerns Laidlaw raised in his letter, Verbruggen said the manditory hook-up policy is the same as was employed in King City, adding that is consistent when a decision is made to the general benefit fo the community.

As for the cost per household, he said there's no way to say what they will be. It will be set by the Township, although he did say the figure cited by Laidlaw is probably not far off.

"The cost will be what the cost will be," he remarked, adding a number of factors will be involved in setting the rate. "There are negotiations on-going."

Councillor Peter Grandilli said the purpose of the session was to address where the Regional components will be going, and not the costs of the Township's end.

He wasn't too pleased with laidlaw and his letter, stating the $12,000 is "an imaginary figure right now."

He added suggestions that liens could be placed on houses of people who don't pay the costs are not true. In King City, he said options have been put forth to help peopel who might have difficulty.

Laidlaw offered little in reaction to the session.

"They presented what they presented," he remarked. "It was what it was."

He also believed his letter, which was distributed by maildrop throughout Nobleton, got more people out for the meeting.