Notice of intent to make a determination

Sucker River Water Treatment Plant Upgrade - Public Comments Invited

November 25, 2022 - Indigenous Services Canada must determine whether the proposed Sucker River Water Treatment Plant Upgrade, located on Sucker River IR 156C, is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects. To help inform this determination, Indigenous Services Canada is inviting comments from the public respecting that determination.

Written comments must be submitted by December 24, 2022 to:

Indigenous Services Canada
SK Region, Environment Unit
1827 Albert Street
Regina, SK S4P 2S9
aadnc.isc-skenv.aandc@canada.ca

The Proposed Project

The Project consists of an upgrade to the existing water treatment plant (WTP), at Sucker River located in NE 33-72-21 W2M. The upgrade will decrease the use of disinfection-by-products (DBP's) at the plant, and provide capacity for future growth (10 years) in the community. The existing treatment process has difficulty effectively reducing the level of dissolved organic carbon from raw water, which is reacting with free chlorine during the disinfection process and creating higher than acceptable disinfection-by-product (DBP) levels in the drinking water. To address this issue, the upgrade will include an expansion to the existing building, new water treatment equipment, a new potable water storage reservoir, and a new wastewater tank. After the addition, the WTP will measure approximately 10 m x 25 m and will include room for expansion of the process requirements including Ion Exchange Tanks and a Brine Tank, new generator, electrical room, a washroom and an office for the operators. The Average Treated Water Demand will increase to 174 m3/day (from 116 m3/day) while the Peak Hour Potable Water Demand will increase to 8.0 L/s from 5.4 L/s.

The expanded WTP will require an expansion to the existing building, relocation of propane tanks, a new parking lot, installing of a gravel apron surrounding the existing building, new chain link fencing to surround the site along with a new gate, and a new gravel path to the existing raw water intake pumphouse.  As well, new water treatment equipment, a new potable water storage reservoir, and a new wastewater tank will be installed, and both distribution pumps and standby pumps will be replaced. Existing utilities (sewer, water, and power) will continue to be used for this Project. The fenced area is 2015 m2.

Project activities include:
- Clear land by removing trees and stripping topsoil
- Grade area
- Install new water storage and wastewater tanks, building expansion, relocate propane tanks 
- complete parking lot and gravel path construction, extend chain link fence and gate 
- hook up existing utilities, pipes to tanks, electrical connections, heat to building expansion
- Topsoil replacement were applicable.

Minimal construction waste will be generated, which will be deposited in the La Ronge regional landfill.  No hazardous waste is expected to be generated by this Project.