The Chatham-Kent Public Utilities Commission (CK PUC) says work to restore the Wheatley Water Treatment Plant will begin in mid-October in order to have the facility up and running by next summer.
CK PUC General Manager Darren Galbraith told commission members on Thursday afternoon that the plant will be back online by August 30, 2025 and that Oscar Construction Company Limited from Oldcastle has won the $778,480 contract to be the construction manager for the construction and restoration of the facility.
Galbraith said Oscar Construction will be responsible for overseeing the sub-contractors approved for the installation, startup, testing, and commissioning of the plant. Oscar's price tag will be funded through the water facility lifecycle reserve.
"The insurance adjuster has reviewed the costs and has recommended that PUC proceed with this contract. We will be seeking reimbursement of associated costs from insurance. Administration will be bringing a full accounting of costs and insurance-covered portions when adjustment of this claim is complete," said Galbraith.
The CK PUC was told in May 2024 that a total of $1.55 million had been spent so far rehabilitating the plant.
Meanwhile, the utilities commission heard that the work to replace the roof of the Wheatley Water Treatment Plant should be complete by early October.
Galbraith added that the temporary water treatment trailers and equipment have been working very well pumping out 5,400 cubic metres per day on average, which is 68 per cent of their treatment capacity.
Galbraith noted the South Kent Water Treatment Pant continues supplying water to Wheatley and Tilbury to assist in water demands, but he expects to go back to using water from Leamington by the end of October once food processors slow down around Thanksgiving. At that time, the temporary equipment will be winterized, he said.
A fire broke out at the plant on September 13, 2023 in the generator room during regular maintenance and significantly damaged the pump, the compressors, and electrical wires, which must be replaced, along with several other critical plant components that were damaged in the blaze.
Galbraith along with CK PUC Chair Carmen McGregor thanked everybody involved in getting the plant to this point.