CBS can’t afford wastewater compliance without help: Barrett

By Mark Squibb

The Town of CBS is applying for $5 million from Ottawa for design work to bring its wastewater treatment plant up to federal effluence standards.

The funding, if approved, will be funnelled through the provincial government. The Town will be on the hook for $1.360 million, net of the HST rebate, as well as any project costs above the approved budget.

Ward 3 Councillor Gerard Tilley said the application represented “step one” of the goal to upgrade the plant.

Councillor-at-large Joshua Barrett added the Town cannot afford to upgrade the facility without funding from the provincial and federal governments.

Council approved a motion to apply for the money during its September 1 public meeting.

“The overall project has some huge number estimates to get to the finish on this, but it’s something that’s not only legislated, but something that we’re keen to do,” said Mayor Darrin Bent. “I think the next phase would be to get funding for engineering and so forth, so we know which way we’re going, which is important… I know we’ve had neighbouring communities and others talk about the millions upon millions of dollars that it cost them and we know how many millions upon millions of dollars it will cost us as well at the end of the day, but it’s something that we are working towards and something that our residents would like to see us get to.”

This past June, council hired Jewer Bailey Consultants to complete consulting and administration services for phase 2 wastewater treatment plant upgrades at a cost of $106,925 plus HST. Back in 2024, council hired Jewer Bailey to provide consulting and administrative work for a first phase of upgrades at the plant at a cost of $73,000, plus HST.