HUMBOLDT — Peter Bergquist, Humboldt’s director of public works and utilities, said the impression the city has taken from the event was that the public are in favour of a good quality, environmentally safe system.
In addition, many residents expressed favour of the solar panel and irrigation options for the lagoon upgrades that the city is preparing.
More than 50 community members interacted with the Humboldt public works open house on March 2 at the Uniplex, with questions and concerns ranging from the irrigation options for the future lagoon upgrade to stormwater drainage.
“We’ve heard a host of good concerns, some we were anticipating, some were new to us which was exactly the purpose of the open house,” Bergquist said.
“Some were about the quality of effluent being produced by the system, its potential effects on Humboldt Lake, potential irrigation options and even stormwater – how we channel it around and outside of the city.”
The city is looking into two options with the lagoon upgrades. While both contain irrigation options, Option 2 has a much larger cell for irrigation storage.
Other differences include Option 1 using more of the existing lagoon, more space to complete the treatment, and the irrigation storage pond is smaller. Option 2, which the city is leaning towards, moves some of the components to the west side of the lagoon and has additional berms being built.
Bergquist described Option 2 as being more of a compact treatment system that allows for easier construction.
“It can be done on land that is currently farmland where we can develop certain components on the west side. One of the biggest obstacles when we do this construction is that we still have to be treating wastewater and ensuring that it meets quality standards when upgrading the system.”
Bergquist said solar panels are an option that the city is looking into, rather than a guarantee with it being dependent on if the city can afford it and if the grant providers support it.
In terms of stormwater, Bergquist said the primary concern heard at the open house is ensuring that it drains away fast enough. The city is currently conducting a city-wide stormwater report that is expected to give options for mitigation.
This isn’t the first time these concerns were raised to the city, in November three Barnes Crescent residents were in attendance during council’s monthly meeting, requesting action to mitigate stormwater flooding on the street.
Specifically in terms of the lagoon upgrade project, Bergquist said some residents were concerned that with the upgrades the water would overflow land around the lagoon before it reaches Humboldt Lake.
“There are a bunch [of concerns] we are making notes on. I don’t have anything big that’s been missed, it’s more making it work, making sure we cover our bases and making sure it’s a successful project.”
