For immediate release
Greater Moncton Wastewater Commission needs community support for ensuring proposed major upgrade is government funding priority
RIVERVIEW, N.B. –In order to meet new federal regulations by 2020, the Greater Moncton Wastewater Commission (GMWC) is preparing to move to secondary treatment of its wastewater, including ultraviolet treatment and disinfection of its effluent. This move is subject to federal and provincial government partial funding of the $72.6 million project.
“Government funding will only take place if ratepayers in Greater Moncton agree that this project is a priority and communicate this to their elected representatives at all levels of government,” says Winston Pearce, GMWC Chair. “Otherwise, without government support, Greater Moncton households will be required to pay approximately $1,200 over the next five years out of their own pockets to fund the upgrade that is being mandated by the federal government.”
Did you know:

• The Greater Moncton Wastewater Commission removes approximately 10,000 tonnes of biosolids per year from the wastewater it treats at its Riverview facility. This is equivalent to 100 railway cars.
• Using these biosolids, it generates an equivalent amount of some of the best compost in Canada which is then made available free of charge to the public.
• Area landscapers and municipalities also use this “AA” rated compost with their large projects. Recent examples include: Dieppe and Riverview walking trails; new City of Moncton field for track and field throwing events (i.e. javelin, discus, hammer, shot put) just outside of the main stadium at the Université de Moncton; the Hildegard storm-water detention basins project for flood prevention work; and for projects at the Hal Betts Commemorative Sportsplex.

“The Commission greatly appreciates the community support it has received over our 31 years of existence,” Mr. Pearce said. “We look forward to ensuring an even more environmentally friendly treatment of Greater Moncton’s wastewater resulting in recreation-friendly and clean water discharge into the Petitcodiac River watershed.”
The Commission was created in 1983 to oversee the construction of a 35-kilometre network of collector sewers intercepting more than 80 untreated outfalls, as well as a major pumping station and eight smaller ones, and a treatment plant for the municipalities of Dieppe, Riverview and Moncton. It is important to note that prior to this time all sewage was discharged directly to the Petitcodiac River.
In 1994, the Commission initiated primary treatment of wastewater at its Riverview Wastewater Treatment Facility.  Rather than being content with the disposal of sludge via stockpiling at a landfill, the Commission instead opted for a much more environmentally friendly solution and became a compost producer using the biosolids removed from the treatment process as feedstock and input into compost manufacturing. Its Delong Drive compost facility initiated compost production in December 2005.
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Media contact:Winston Pearce, P.Eng.ChairGreater Moncton Sewerage Commission506-381-0899wpearce@gmwc-ceugm.comwww.gmwc-ceugm.com