Chemical cost hikes and water treatment plant construction remain major pressures
CARLETON PLACE — Carleton Place is preparing for another significant year of investment in its water and wastewater systems, with major pumping-station work, treatment-plant expansions and rising chemical costs shaping the 2026 water and sewer budget.
Public Works Director Guy Bourgon presented the details to council on Nov. 13 during the first round of budget deliberations.
Bourgon said several capital projects are already underway and will continue into 2026.
One of the larger items is the replacement of a problematic watermain.
“We will be replacing a watermain on Napoleon Street,” he said. “One block of watermains between Wilson and Woodbridge is problematic for us.”
Rehabilitation work at the Findlay Avenue, Princess Street and Industrial Avenue pumping stations is ongoing, with completion expected by the end of February.
Smaller rehabilitation work also continues at the Carlgate, Westview Heights and Mississippi Keys pumping stations. Ladder and hatch replacement at those stations is being retendered after OCWA was dissatisfied with the initial bids.
Treatment plant expansions continue through 2028
The largest ongoing projects remain the reconstruction and expansion of the Carleton Place Water Treatment Plant and Wastewater Treatment Plant. The work is contracted through ASCO under a $123-million agreement before contingency, utilities and contract administration.
Bourgon said most major work at the wastewater plant is expected to be completed by the end of 2027, with commissioning to follow. The water plant work extends into spring 2028, with commissioning possibly continuing into 2029.
“The treatment plant expansions are ongoing,” he said.
He noted that estimating 2026 spending remains difficult due to delivery schedules for major equipment.
“It’s just hard to estimate right now just how much we will be spending next year,” he said. “We took a guess at it, and that’s what we carried forward in the budget.”
New equipment and annual maintenance
Lifecycle maintenance at both plants will continue in 2026.
“Plant major maintenance… between both plants, that’s $400,000,” Bourgon said.
Public Works is also requesting a hydraulic guillotine, a tool used to make clean, square cuts on underground pipe.
“It gives you a perfectly clean, square cut quickly,” Bourgon said. “It removes any risk of injury to the operators.”
Operational pressures driven by chemical costs
Chemical costs at both treatment plants continue to rise and remain the largest operational pressure in the 2026 water and sewer budget.
“We have an $81,000 increase at the Water Treatment Plant, and that is due to the continuing higher chemical costs,” Bourgon said.
The Wastewater Treatment Plant is seeing a similar increase.
“They raise them every year, and it seems to be out of control lately,” he said.
Deputy Mayor Andrew Tennent noted the complexity of the ongoing work.
“I’m so glad that we have people who can do this for us,” she said. “Just to wrap your head around the scope of this project … it’s massive.”
Coun. Linda Seccaspina said residents often ask why the projects are so costly.
“Number one complaint I get: why do we need this water plant and why is it so expensive?”
Bourgon said delaying or spreading the work over multiple contracts would have made the projects more expensive.
“Piecemealing things … would be exorbitant,” he said. “If you do it in piecemeal fashion, you’re going to be probably looking at a 50 per cent increase in the price.”
Mayor Toby Randell also commented on the scale of the work.
“These are massive, massive undertakings,” Randell said. “As a layperson, I appreciate it.”
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