Schreiber council reveals plans for new waste water treatment plant

New Investment for Schreiber’s Wastewater Future

The Township of Schreiber recently held a public open house at the Recreation Center to discuss a critical $29.9 million project: the construction of a new wastewater treatment facility. Led by CAO Clerk Rhonda Smith and Director of Operations Tammy Ivey, the presentation detailed the urgent need to replace the town’s current plant, which was built in the 1970s has been experiencing breakdowns and is now structurally unsound.

The township announced a major breakthrough in funding through Ontario’s Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program at an earlier event. The provincial government has committed $21.8 million, covering 73% of the total project costs.

The remaining shortfall stands at approximately $8.8 million. While the township has modeled a “worst-case scenario” involving a 5% capital levy over four years, officials emphasized that no such tax has been approved. Instead, the administration is aggressively lobbying the federal government to cover the remaining 27% so the project does not become a burden to local ratepayers.

Township officials explored several options before deciding on a new Rotating Biological Contactor (RBC) packaged plant.
The new system is based on a modular design and will use UV lighting for disinfection, significantly reducing the need for costly and hazardous chemicals.

While repairing the old plant would cost $13.5 million for only five more years of use, the new facility has a life expectancy of 40 to 50 years. The current plant has received warnings regarding failure to meet environmental regulations; the new build ensures the protection of Lake Superior.


The meeting concluded with a Q&A session where residents raised valid concerns regarding future costs and capacity. One resident questioned if the plant was oversized for the current population, but experts explained that the capacity is designed to handle “heavy flow events” and to prevent environmental spills.

Others expressed worry over rising water bills and the accuracy of the $29.9 million estimate given current inflation. Officials reassured the public that a 25% contingency buffer ($5.8 million) is baked into the budget to account for rising costs between now and the projected August 2028 completion date.

The township encourages residents to support the project by writing letters to MPs and MPPs to help secure the remaining federal funds.