The current filter at the raw water pump house allows small fish into the water treatment plant. The federal government says that shouldn't happen.(Council agenda package/City of P.A.)

By Alison Sandstrom

Pump house woes

Fish “baskets” at water treatment plant to cost $1 million

Nov 20, 2019 | 6:16 PM

Plans for Prince Albert’s new raw water pump house are coming along less than swimmingly.

As city councillors contend with news the major infrastructure project will be significantly pricier than initially budgeted for, a new federal regulation is making the project yet more expensive.

At a meeting on Monday night, P.A. city administration told councillors that in order to comply with recently introduced federal regulations, all aquatic species caught in the raw water pump house must be returned to the river unharmed.

According to manager of capital works Nykol Miller, currently some small fish and minnows make it through the screen in place over the intake pipe and are killed inside the plant.

A design shows a specialized filter and basket system that returns fish unharmed to the river. (Council agenda package/City of P.A.)

Final numbers

Local RM results finalized

12h ago

Commitment

Hildebrand commits to Bemidji State in NCAA DI, first NCAA commitment in Raiders history

15h ago

Inflation

Rent inflation to slow in the next few years, Desjardins predicts

16h ago

To adhere to regulations implemented in August by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Miller said a much more complicated system will have to be installed at the new facility.

“The water goes through the design screen and there’s little baskets that collect the fish,” she explained to council. “Then it goes out to a fish bay and it’s washed back out to the river.”

When Miller revealed the $1 million price tag of the new system, one councillor was seen putting his head in his hands.

Coun. Ted Zurakowski described the price of complying with the rule as “laughable.”

“Have we had any complaints from our residents with fish coming out of their faucets,” he questioned, and on hearing from staff the city would be fined if they did not comply, was frustrated by the situation.

“I’m hearing we have no choice, we must return the fish …great.”

Coun. Blake Edwards suggested the city should challenge the federal government on the new regulations.

“Maybe they haven’t even seen a river before, who knows these people that write these policies,” he said. “It’s ridiculous and I hope that we’re pointing it out to them. This is unjust.”

alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom