Ottawa, Ontario
The Government of Canada has made increasing the capacity of the Desjardins water filtration plant in Lévis a major infrastructure priority. The government has earmarked up to $11.75 million for this project. Funding will come from the Major Projects Component of the Building Canada Fund.
The Lévis and Lauzon sectors of the city of Lévis, which include a population of approximately 50,000, receive drinking water from two filtration plants (Desjardins and Guilmour), which take water from the St. Lawrence River.
Current water consumption in these two sectors exceeds the nominal production capacity of the two plants. Moreover, there is a major capacity deficit for water collection at the Desjardins plant.
The Desjardins filtration plant will be expanded to bring its nominal production capacity from 25,000 m3/d to 65,000 m3/d. The planned work includes replacing the existing static clarifiers with ballasted floc lamellar clarifiers and adding filters and an ultraviolet disinfection system, as well as structural, architectural, building mechanics, electrical and automation work required to install this new equipment. Building repairs and other exterior work on the site will also be carried out. The project also includes constructing a new water intake structure next to the St. Lawrence River and increasing the capacity of the raw water pumping station.
The total cost of the project is expected to total $70 million. Work at the Desjardins plant is expected to begin in the next construction season and to end in March 2011. Construction of the new water intake structure and the gross water pumping station is planned for 2010.
Federal funding will be provided as long as the project meets all federal requirements to qualify for the Building Canada Fund and Quebec signs a contribution agreement.
