The City introduced a loan bill in the amount of $15.2 million during the Sept-Îles City Council meeting this Monday to carry out major works on the drinking water treatment plant.
The drinking water treatment plant upgrade project, announced in 2020, will increase plant performance and ensure long-term compliance with standards.
It is planned to completely redevelop the treatment chain in order to introduce chloramine instead of chlorine to ensure water disinfection. The project also includes the transformation of two basins into a reserve dedicated to disinfection, the replacement of the panel of the automaton and the complete repair of the filters.
Better taste of water
The use of chloramine, a more stable and longer-lasting disinfectant than chlorine, will allow the quality of the purified water circulating in the network to be preserved for longer, the municipality said in a press release. It adds that chloramine reduces the chlorine taste and smell of tap water.
The work should take place in 2023 so that the new water protection system will be effective in 2024. Until the project progresses, the population will be informed about the progress of the project and various aspects related to the new water treatment process . Various information is available online on the city website.
More expensive than expected
The work is expected to cost more than expected, as it was estimated at $9 million in 2020. However, the city is eligible for a government subsidy of up to 50% of the project costs. “The rising cost of materials and labor is affecting all the projects we want to start,” said Mayor Steeve Beaupré.
