The Well 7 and 8 expansion project has been progressing behind the scenes. Staff have been reviewing background documents on the wells to better understand the constraints and opportunities on the project. Staff determined that the main constraints are related to testing the wells while they are in service and dealing with old equipment that is nearing the end of its service life. The good news is that the main parts of the well system, including the aquifer, can accommodate higher flows and that the system is already prepared to pump more water. To pump more water, however, the Municipality needs to submit an application to the Ministry of Environment Conservation and Parks to amend the Municipal Drinking Water Licence. Once completed, the Municipality will be able to pump more water in compliance with regulations and without needing to complete costly upgrades.
The next steps on this project are replacing the aging well pump on Well 7 and to submit an application to the Ministry. Moving forward, staff will be pursuing the next well project identified in the master plan: the drilling of two new wells and the completion of an expanded source water protection plan.