Sludge Watch ==> Halifax Harbour Nova Scotia- sewage plant needs $30M upgrade

[Maureen Reilly]

Sludgewatch Admin:

I hear that the proposed Halifax sewage sludge treatment is N-Viro but the 
plant isn't finished yet.
Problem is that N-Viro plans to use cement kiln dust from the Brookfield 
Lafarge cement plant.
The Lafarge plant burns used oil for fuel, so their cement kiln dust is 
contaminated with thallium.
Now Lafarge Brookfield wants to burn used tires...leaving their cement kiln 
dust even more toxic.

Why would any farmer want to put these toxins on a farm?  Simple answer:
Nova Scotia farmers don't want it!  In other jurisdictions N-viro had to 
supply product liability insurance.  I doubt they can get that with the 
contaminated cement kiln dust.


Where will all the tonnage of contaminated sludge and cement kiln waste go?
Hang on to your pocketbooks, Halifax.  This isn't a sludge solution.

They are just creating an expensive disposal problem.



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Sewage plant upgrade carries $30M price tag
Water bills could go up to pay for it
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
CBC News


The sewage treatment plant in Eastern Passage needs a $30-million upgrade to 
stop raw sewage from flowing into Halifax Harbour, municipal officials say.

Development in Eastern Passage is pushing the treatment plant beyond its 
limits, and there are overflow problems almost every day.

In a report to Halifax regional council, municipal staff say the plant is 
consistently out of compliance with provincial environmental rules.

The plant needs more than just an expansion, staff say. Parts have to be 
replaced and the treatment system must be upgraded, which is estimated to 
cost $30 million over 20 years.

Staff propose a complicated method of paying for it that involves using some 
of the federal gas taxes, contributions from developers and an increase in 
the environmental protection fee on water bills.

"There are serious implications here for the people who pay the bills: user 
fees or taxes," Coun. Harry McInroy said Tuesday.

But with more housing planned for Eastern Passage, Coun. Gloria McClusky 
says the municipality has no choice but to act.

"We keep delaying these things and delaying them, and then we get to the 
crunch when we have to jump in and do something," she said.

Regional council has decided to wait until it gets more information next 
month before it votes on the project.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/story/2007/02/14/eastern-passage.html