PRRD expands Rolla Sewer treatment upgrades contract to meet provincial regulations

ROLLA, B.C. — The Peace River Regional District (PRRD) expanded the Rolla Sewer treatment upgrades contract with McElhanney Ltd. during its May 2nd board meeting to meet provincial government regulations. 

According to a report to the board, the changes are necessary to meet requirements for the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (MoECCS) and for qualified professionals to complete existing compliance documentation for the sewer.

The contract expansion includes a value increase of $95,623 and extending the current end date in August until December 31st, 2024.

The board first awarded the contract at a regional board meeting on April 15th, 2021, after MoECCS found the Rolla Sewer system was in non-compliance with the Municipal Wastewater Regulations (MWR).

McElhanney Ltd. was originally awarded the contract for the engineered design of sewer treatment upgrades at a value of $93,379.

Due to several amendments and extensions over the years, the contract value has increased to a total of $316,232.

In 2022, the company expanded its contract scope to develop the necessary documentation to bring the sewer system into compliance with the regulations, including an environmental impact study, monitoring program, and compliance summary submitted to the ministry for review.

In June 2023, the PRRD provided a memo outlining monitoring results of Rolla Creek prior to and during discharge to the ministry, and applied for final authorization with the required documentation that McElhanney compiled.

During that period, multiple environmental protection officers have been assigned to the Rolla MWR file, and the Ministry has restructured the authorization team, meaning staff had to apply again for authorization in early 2024.

The PRRD held an open house for Rolla residents in November 2021 to learn more about the sewer system.

The full report can be viewed below: