1.             EXTENSION OF DRINKING WATER SUPPLY TO THE TOWNSHIP OF RUSSELL

 

PROLONGEMENT DU RÉSEAU DE DISTRIBUTION D’EAU POTABLE AU CANTON DE RUSSELL

 

 

 

Committee recommendationS

 

That Council approve:

 

1.            The entering into of an Agreement with the Township of Russell for:

a.                  the construction, operation and maintenance of a pumping station, metering chamber, transmission main and related works;

b.                  the installation of a watermain by the Township of Russell within the City Of Ottawa right of way; and

c.                   the supply of water to the Township of Russell.

 

2.         The Agreement to be in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor and the Deputy City Manager of Public Works and Services.

 

3.         That staff seek the opinion of the Auditor General to confirm full cost recovery as defined under the Environmental Water and Sewage Systems Act, and report back prior to the execution of the License of Occupation and Water Supply Agreement.

 

 

RecommandationS du Comité

 

Que le Conseil municipal approuve :

 

1.         la conclusion d’une entente avec le Canton de Russell en vue de :

a.                  la construction, de l’exploitation et de l’entretien d’une station de pompage, d’une chambre de compteur, d’une conduite principale et d’ouvrages connexes;

b.                  l’installation d’une conduite principale par le Canton de Russell dans l’emprise de la ville d’Ottawa; et

c.                   que le Canton de Russell ait accès au réseau de distribution d’eau.

 

2.         l’entente devant être jugée satisfaisante par le chef du contentieux de la Ville et le directeur municipal adjoint, Services et Travaux publics.

 

3. que le personnel demande l’avis du vérificateur général afin de confirmer le recouvrement total des coûts tel que défini en vertu de la Loi de 2002 sur la durabilité des réseaux d’eau et d’égouts, et qu’il fasse rapport avant la passation de l’accord concernant le permis d’occupation et l’alimentation en eau.

 

Documentation

 

1.      Deputy City Manager's report Public Works and Services dated 20 September 2007 (ACS2007-PWS-UTL-0021).

 

2.      Extract of the Draft Minutes 18, Planning and Environment Committee, 9 October 2007 (to be distributed prior to Council).

 

Report to/Rapport au:

 

Planning and Environment Committee

Comité de l'urbanisme et de l'environnement

 

and Council / et au Conseil

 

20 September 2007/ le 20 septembre 2007

 

Submitted by/Soumis par : R.G. Hewitt,

Deputy City Manager/Directeur municipal adjoint,

Public Works and Services/Services et Travaux publics  

 

Contact Person/Personne ressource : Dixon Weir, Acting Director/Directeur par intérim

Utility Services/Services publics

613-580-2424 x22609, Dixon.Weir@ottawa.ca

 

City-Wide / À l'échelle de la Ville

Ref N°: ACS2007-PWS-UTL-0021

 

 

SUBJECT:

EXTENSION OF DRINKING WATER SUPPLY TO THE TOWNSHIP OF RUSSELL

 

 

OBJET :

PROLONGEMENT DU RÉSEAU DE DISTRIBUTION D’EAU POTABLE AU CANTON DE RUSSELL

 

REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS

 

That the Planning and Environment Committee recommend Council approve the entering into of an Agreement with the Township of Russell for:

1.                    the construction, operation and maintenance of a pumping station, metering chamber, transmission main and related works;

2.                    the installation of a watermain by the Township of Russell within the City Of Ottawa right of way; and

3.                    the supply of water to the Township of Russell.

 

The Agreement to be in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor and the Deputy City Manager of Public Works and Services.

 

 

RECOMMANDATIONS DU RAPPORT


Que le Comité de l’urbanisme et de l’environnement recommande au Conseil d’approuver la conclusion d’une entente avec le Canton de Russell en vue de :

1.                  la construction, de l’exploitation et de l’entretien d’une station de pompage, d’une chambre de compteur, d’une conduite principale et d’ouvrages connexes;

2.                  l’installation d’une conduite principale par le Canton de Russell dans l’emprise de la ville d’Ottawa; et

3.                  que le Canton de Russell ait accès au réseau de distribution d’eau.

 

L’entente devant être jugée satisfaisante par le chef du contentieux de la Ville et le directeur municipal adjoint, Services et Travaux publics.

 

 

BACKGROUND

 

The Township of Russell currently operates a municipal drinking water system that services residents of Embrun, Russell and Marionville.

 

This drinking water system is a groundwater based supply system and includes the following subsystems and components:

·        groundwater supply wells in Embrun and Russell;

·        water treatment plants in Embrun and Russell;

·        elevated storage reservoirs in Embrun, Russell and Marionville;

·        feedermains interconnecting the communities of Embrun, Russell and Marionville; and,

·        local water distribution systems in each of Embrun, Russell and Marionville.

 

The Township has operated these various systems and facilities for many years in full compliance with all Federal and Provincial drinking water guidelines and standards. 

 

In 2003, recognizing that the current drinking water system would not adequately meet the Township's long term growth requirements, the Township embarked on a Master Plan of Drinking Water Services. 

 

The Master Plan identified a number of alternative means of dealing with this growth including:

 

·        A Do Nothing alternative;

·        Expand the Existing Water Supply Well Systems; and,

·        Connect to the City of Ottawa drinking water system.

 

The Do Nothing alternative was rejected, as it did not meet the Township's growth requirements.

Concerns regarding the sustainability of the current and expanded well-based water supply were found during the assessment phase of the project.  The sustainability concerns were as a result of water quality risks posed by previous and current land uses in close proximity to the unconfined Morewood aquifer used as the source of supply for this system.  These concerns forced a more detailed assessment of the remaining alternative that is the connection to the City of Ottawa drinking water system.

In 2005, staff from the Township approached City staff to discuss the alternative of connecting to the City of Ottawa water distribution system.  It was recognized that neither the City's Official Plan nor the supporting Infrastructure Master Plan had considered this type of extension of service.  Therefore, City staff were not able to provide definitive responses to the concept of extending services.

 

The Township proposed to conduct a technical feasibility study to assess extending the City of Ottawa's current drinking water system to supply the Township's forecast future drinking water demands.  It was agreed that City staff would provide current and growth related drinking water demand information and technical review of the Township's assessment of this alternative.  The following conditions were established:

 

1.         That participation in this technical evaluation in no way committed the City to providing drinking water supply to the Township.  Formal Council consideration and approval would be necessary prior to proceeding with the servicing alternative.  Should Council approve the extension of services, then a formal servicing agreement would also be required.

 

2.         That the full cost of the technical feasibility assessment must be borne by the Township.

 

3.         That the basis of determining technical feasibility was that Township demands could not compromise the ability of the City to meet its current growth expectations or requirements.  This meant that the technical assessment must identify all works necessary to accommodate the Township growth, including the possible acceleration of any currently proposed City projects necessary to accommodate City growth.

 

4.            Recognizing that for the Township to weigh the benefit of this alternative against other servicing alternatives, it was important that a cost of service extension be developed.  This financial assessment must include all costs associated with the alternative, including direct costs of construction or works necessary to provide this supply and indirect costs, such as City of Ottawa project acceleration costs for works projected by the City but accelerated to meet the Township's water demand requirements.

 

Council delegated to staff the authority to enter into negotiations with the Township of Russell regarding the provision of drinking water supply to the existing Township municipal residential drinking water system serving Embrun, Russell and Marionville (Extension of Drinking water Supply to the Township of Russell ACS2006-PWS-UTL-0018) subject to a number of principles, which will be discussed in detail below.

 

The Township has proceeded with the Environmental Assessment required for works of this nature.  The report summarizing their assessment and findings has been completed and was circulated and made available to the public.  The necessary public review periods have been completed with no significant objections.  The Township is now proceeding with the final filing of the report.

 

 

DISCUSSION

 

Negotiations between City staff and the Township of Russell have now culminated in the drafting of a Licence of Occupation and Water Supply Agreement (copy available upon request for review Document A).  The agreement addresses the principles endorsed by Council as follows:

 

1.         That servicing the Township will not compromise the City’s ability to support growth as proposed by the City’s Official Plan and Infrastructure Master Plan

 

City staff has reviewed the proposed capital works and the Township's current and future growth requirements and is satisfied that this growth can be accommodated with no significant impact on City growth plans.

 

A draft "Technical Feasibility Study of a Potable Water Supply from the City of Ottawa to the Township of Russell" report has been prepared by the Township and circulated to City staff in Public Works and Services and Planning, Transit and the Environment.

 

The technical review of this draft report by City staff indicated that it was possible to expand the City's current drinking water system to supply the Township of Russell’s current and future requirements without compromising or negatively affecting any of the City of Ottawa's current or future growth requirements.

 

2.         That the Township will be responsible for all capital costs for the construction and commissioning of the new drinking water infrastructure required to link the City of Ottawa’s municipal residential drinking water system to the Township of Russell’s drinking water system.  The design of this infrastructure will be to the City of Ottawa design standards and subject to the City’s approval.

 

The Agreement sets out the responsibilities of the Township for the design, construction and commissioning of the required drinking water infrastructure including the pumping station, meter chambers and feedermain required to link the Township system to the City's drinking water system. All works that are to be subsequently turned over to City of Ottawa for operating and maintenance are to be constructed to City of Ottawa standards and will be reviewed and approved by City staff.

 

3.         That infrastructure constructed within the City of Ottawa, once commissioned, will be turned over to the City of Ottawa who will be responsible for the ongoing operation and maintenance of it.

 

This is the area with the most significant deviation from earlier principles. Staff have negotiated with the Township such that only those capital works relied upon to service City of Ottawa customers be turned over to the City for operation and maintenance.  These works would include:

 

·        the Leitrim Pumping Station;

·        the Metering Chamber, to be constructed at Bank and Mitch Owens;

·        a short length of local water distribution main to be installed along Bank Street; and

·      subsequent improvements to the Hurdman and Ottawa South Pumping Stations and local water distribution system upsizing in the Leitrim area, to which capital contributions have been made by the Township.

 

The watermain to be constructed between the Metering Chamber referenced above and the Township of Russell, and intended for the sole purpose of supplying the Township with water and will be owned, operated and maintained by the Township of Russell.  City staff recommends that the Township enter into a Licence of Occupation, which will give the Township access to the City's public road allowance to install and maintain the feedermain between the Metering Chamber and the Township.  The advantage this solution provides to the City is that we avoid the long term operating, maintenance and renewal responsibility for this infrastructure.

 

A concern exists about the quality of water and in particular the deterioration of the disinfectant residual, as it travels from the Metering Chamber to the Township.  To alleviate this concern, it has been agreed that the Township will adjust the disinfectant residual at their treatment facility prior to distribution to their clients.  Therefore, the water between the Metering Chamber and the Township will be considered to be non-potable. 

 

As the infrastructure intended solely for the use and benefit of Township residents is under Township ownership and as the water in this section of piping will be considered to be non-potable, and as the un-coordinated operation of valves along the length of the watermain will lead to extreme pressure surges, no connections to the watermain will be allowed between the Metering Chamber and the Township.

 

The Township will also be required to make a financial contribution to the City of Ottawa (as detailed in Schedule "D" of the draft Agreement) to allow improvements to the water transmission system to ensure that the supply of water to Russell has no significant impact on customers within the City of Ottawa.

 

The City will take over the ownership of the pumping station as this piece of infrastructure is required to maintain service to the residents of the City of Ottawa and of the Metering Chamber, which will act as the point of ownership demarcation.  Both of these pieces of infrastructure will be completely compatible and integrated into the City system to ensure ongoing monitoring and maintenance of the supply.

 

4.         That the City will invoice the Township for water delivered to the Township at the City of Ottawa water rate.

 

Water being supplied to the Township will be measured at the Metering Chamber. The Township will pay to the City the Water Rate within the City for the consumption of water.

 

5.         That the Township agree that they will adopt the City of Ottawa Water By-law policies and procedures as modified by the City of Ottawa from time to time.

 

The Township has agreed to implement City of Ottawa policies with respect to the use of water that do not require the allocation of funding.  For those policies that may require the allocation of funding, the Township will place them before the Township Council for consideration no later than the subsequent budget year.

 

Most significantly, the Township will install metering on all services as a condition of the project. This policy will match the City of Ottawa's policy on metering.

 

6.         That staff report back to Planning and Environment Committee prior to entering into a formal agreement with the Township.

 

This report is intended to satisfy this condition.

 

Term of Agreement

 

The agreement is for an initial 30 year term and is subject to being renewed in increments of 20 years thereafter.  Should the City of Ottawa wish to have the agreement terminated, notice must be given at least 5 years before the end of any term of the agreement.  If Ottawa and Russell are not able to agree upon having the agreement terminated, the matter will be referred to the Ontario Municipal Board for its determination.

 

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

 

It is expected that all works required can be constructed with few if any environmental impacts. Subsequent design work will identify any potential impacts and develop mitigation plans to minimize or avoid them.

 

CONSULTATION

 

The proponent for these works, the Township of Russell, has conducted an Environmental Assessment on the project.  The study report titled, “Source Water Replacement Project” assesses the extension of water supply from the City of Ottawa to the Township.  A copy of the report is posted on the Township’s website.  A public meeting was held on June 26th as a requirement of the Environmental Assessment for these works.

 

Normal notices were given through the publication of the Planning and Environment Committee Agenda.

 

RURAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The City's Official Plan states that all servicing outside of the Public Service Areas will be on the basis of private services.  (Official Plan, Section 2.3.2 Water and Wastewater Services, Policy 8). The extension of drinking water supply to the Township of Russell does not conflict with this strategy, as it will not provide water services to any areas within the City of Ottawa.

 

Subsequent to the issuance of the City’s Official Plan, an independent assessment of municipal servicing alternatives has been conducted for the Village of Greely. This report (Greely Community Design Plan – Official Plan Amendment, Report ACS2004-DEV-POL-0038 did not select municipal services as its preferred solution.  The construction of these works, therefore, is consistent with this assessment.

 

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

 

There are no financial implications to the City until 2009 when the service would begin. Incremental production and distribution costs as a result of commencing supply to the Township, will be included in the 2009 Drinking Water Services Draft Operating Budget.  These increased operating costs will be offset by charges to the Township for water supply at the City's then current Water Rate.

 

The basis of the agreement has been that the Township would cover all capital costs associated with the extension of supply to the Township.  The agreement accomplishes this in that the Township will construct all infrastructure required and make a financial contribution to cover future works. 

 

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

 

Document 1 - Licence of Occupation and Water Supply Agreement – Issued separately and on file with the City Clerk

 

DISPOSITION

 

With Council’s approval, staff will conclude the execution of the Agreement with the Township of Russell for the Licence of Occupation and Water Supply in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor and the Deputy City Manager of Public Works and Services.

 

It is anticipated that as the project proceeds, updates will be made to the supporting studies and reports referenced in Schedule “C” to the agreement.  As a result, from time to time, amending agreements referencing the revised studies and reports will be prepared and executed.  These studies and reports will continue to have to be consistent with the principles approved by Council through this report, otherwise a report to Committee and Council will be required.