North Battleford city council discussed a request from the town to temporarily accept effluent for an out-of-city-business at the city's facility until the town expands and upgrades its lagoon wastewater treatment system. Council's meeting was live-streamed via Zoom. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

In the chambers

Council agrees to accept effluent for out-of-city business temporarily

Apr 15, 2020 | 5:14 PM

The City of North Battleford has agreed to accept effluent for an out-of-city business to its system if it has the capability, after receiving a request from the Town of Battleford.

The town asked the city to help since it is currently not able to take the effluent from the Thunderchild – Decibel Cannabis Company (formally called Westleaf Inc.) facility, located off Highway 16 on the outskirts of Battleford. After the town expands and upgrades its Battleford lagoon wastewater treatment system it will be able to accept the wastewater this fall.

“It is unusual for the city to extend utility services outside of the city,” North Battleford Mayor Ryan Bater said. “But council felt that this is a temporary measure.”

He added of the cannabis company does have the capacity to create many jobs within the region, which “during this time is even more important than usual.”

The request was supported by city council unanimously.

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“Council approved this in principle; there is still work to be done in terms of analyzing the effluent itself just to make sure it won’t harm the city’s wastewater treatment facility,” Bater said. “We’re just waiting for the Saskatchewan Research Council to send back the test results on that.”

City Manager Randy Patrick said in his report the city’s wastewater facilities are able to properly dispose of the effluent from the company with no impact on the city’s existing operations. He added the request is temporary until the town upgrades its sewage lagoon facilities.

“Our bylaw talks about what can go into the system and what can’t,” he said. “So we already have some preliminary guidelines as to what can go into that system.”

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow