MONCTON, N.B. – TransAqua – the Greater Moncton Wastewater Commission (GMWC) – held its 2015 annual general meeting (AGM) today at the Dieppe Arts and Culture Centre.
“I am very pleased with the year TransAqua had in 2015,” said Winston Pearce, Chair of the Commission. “Our dedicated team of Commission members and TransAqua personnel came together to generate very positive financial results and meet operational requirements, while also setting the stage for the upcoming $90-million upgrade to our wastewater treatment facility to meet new federal regulations. This upgrade, which must be completed by 2020 at the latest, will result in cleaner effluent being discharged into the Petitcodiac River from our facility in Riverview.”
“Our technical staff also worked extensively with consulting engineering firm CBCL Limited to complete the detailed design of the preliminary treatment and septage receiving section of the wastewater treatment process as part of the upgrade to the existing infrastructure as the beginning of TransAqua’s efforts to fulfil our legal requirements by 2020,” he said. “Throughout 2015, we made presentations to the provincial and federal levels of government requesting three level funding for this major upgrade. We expect a funding announcement very soon so we can begin construction this summer.”
“TransAqua has been building foundations for the future in 2015 by activating the newest compost pad, installing major automation upgrades (SCADA) and installing Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) baffles at four wastewater pumping stations. TransAqua hosted numerous technical tours on a regular basis to school classes, technical colleges, universities, local community groups and elected government representatives and candidates at both our Wastewater Treatment Facility in Riverview and Compost Facility in Moncton,” Mr. Pearce said.
Commission Treasurer Chanel Michaud highlighted the $6.2-million surplus generated in 2015 by the GMWC. These results were a combination of increased revenues and expense controls. The Commission remained in an excellent financial position again at the end of fiscal year 2015. There are now $30 million in guaranteed investments, excluding a $5-million contingency reserve. As well, there is $3.9 million in interest-bearing operating accounts.
Production of the Commission’s type ‘AA’ compost – some of the best in Canada – had a record year in 2015 and continued to be popular with the public, municipalities and local landscapers in 2015. An expansion was completed in 2015 that will further increase capacity by allowing for an additional 5,000 tonnes of biosolids and 5,000 tonnes of wood waste thereby accommodating anticipated increase in volume of biosolids due to advanced biological treatment, as well as to prepare for future growth.
At the end of the 2015 AGM, a separate Commission meeting was held to elect the new executive officers. “I want to thank the previous executive officers – Treasurer Chanel Michaud and Secretary Clarence Sweetland – who have helped me immeasurably,” said Mr. Pearce, as the outgoing Chair of the Commission. “I am also pleased to welcome the new executive by handing over the gavel to David Muir. Welcome also to Treasurer, George Somers, and Secretary, Julie Theriault.”
About TransAqua
TransAqua / Greater Moncton Wastewater Commission (www.transaqua.ca) was established in 1983 to support the wastewater collection and treatment needs of the Dieppe, Moncton and Riverview tri-community. Since then, it has developed a 31-kilometre collection network and a treatment facility to best deliver on this mandate. It has also become a leader in the reuse of biosolids through the generation of type ‘AA’ compost (the highest grade currently achieved in Canada) as opposed to disposal in a landfill site. The organization is now positioning itself to further upgrade its facilities to provide an enhanced secondary treatment approach that will allow it to meet recently introduced mandatory federal regulations prior to the 2020 deadline.