By Trevor Greenway

Wakefield needs to fix its aging sewer system, but despite the state of disrepair, La Pêche says it has nothing to do with the recent spring contamination at the top of Valley Drive. 

According to La Pêche Mayor Guillaume Lamoureux, a Ministry of Environment assessment in 2022 revealed a number of fixes that the municipality must make on the sewer system in Wakefield that was built nearly 30 years ago, namely failing pump stations. 

“Our biggest concern is around backup pumps for the pumping stations,” said Lamoureux. “We had to rent two pumps last year when maintenance on our pumps was required. We have also had issues with control panels; they must be replaced.”

The work will cost close to $350,000, and workers will begin repairs immediately, with a completion date of next summer. La Pêche passed a borrowing bylaw Oct. 24 for $357,000 to complete the work. 

“The sewers were built in 1996,” said Lamoureux. “Components of the system are used up and must be replaced. Also, the work needs to be done to avoid having to do urgent repairs in the near future if we wait until components fail. This equipment is very specialized, and there can be considerable delays for obtaining components.”

Lamoureux told the Low Down that the municipality is certain that the aging system isn’t linked to recent boil water advisories that have affected the Wakefield spring on Valley Drive. He said the effluence from the treatment plant is not contaminating Wakefield’s water source. 

“The outlet of the sewer system is in the Gatineau River, located near the intersection of Riverside and Chemin de la Vallée-de-Wakefield,” said Lamoureux. “On top of installing flowmeters, we have done a lot of tests and camera inspections in recent years to ensure the impermeability of the system and found no leak on the system’s outlet.”

Lamoureux added that the municipality has no plans to expand the sewer system, as the capacity of the aerated ponds is at just 50 per cent. He said there is “no need” to expand capacity, but he did leave the door open to extending the network to service new areas.