September 14, 2021 – Infrastructure Canada and Indigenous Services Canada must determine whether the proposed New Osnaburgh Water Treatment Plant Upgradesproject in New Osnaburgh, ON is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

To help inform this determination, Infrastructure Canada and Indigenous Services Canada are inviting comments from the public respecting that determination. All comments will be considered public. For more information, individuals should consult the Privacy Notice on the Registry website (https://iaac-aeic.gc.ca/050/evaluations/Protection?culture=en-CA).

Written comments must be submitted by October 14, 2021 to:

Lily Comeau, Environmental Review Officer, Infrastructure Canada

The purpose of the proposed project is to upgrade the existing water treatment plant, extend the water distribution system to planned lot developments as well as unserviced homes, improve the reservoir for better fire flows and increased fire protection.

The scope of works includes:

• Construction of a new below-grade storage reservoir;
• Expanding the existing water treatment plant building;
• Installing a new water treatment unit using nanofiltration with pre-filters;
• Repairing the disinfection treatment processes (UV and chlorination);
• Commissioning a new back-up generator for redundancy;
• Addition of fire hydrants to the distribution network;
• Decommissioning unused equipment;
• An upgraded water treatment plant that uses familiar technologies for the operators' ease of maintenance;
• More water storage area to provide fire protection;
• Increase reservoir to help with fire protection; and
• A new back-up generator to ensure the plant has redundancy.
   
  The proposed project will:

• Supply New Osnaburgh with clean, reliable drinking water;
• Expand piped water services to the entire community;
• Produce fire storage and fire flows to give fire protection;
• Provide redundancy within the water treatment plan.
  Currently, there is no redundancy within the plant to allow for regular maintenance. Hence, when a component goes down the water treatment system must be shut down to repair and/or maintain that component. This project will look to address these types of deficiencies and concerns. The Mishkeegogamang owns and controls all the lands associated with this project. The current water treatment plant does not currently meet the current needs of the community much less the expected 20 year projected water demand.