volume 1 - Halifax Regional Municipality

Halifax Water Integrated Resource Plan
Executive Summary
HRM planning department provided a range growth projections for use by the IRP
project team. Based on the mid-range of those projections the following growth
estimates were developed and applied to the IRP and the RWWFP:
• Residential growth to 2046 – 159,240 persons.
• Employment area growth to 2046 – 698.1 ha.
The impact of growth was examined for both the water and wastewater systems. Most
of the new growth is planned to occur in the urban core or adjacent areas. Very little of
the growth other than infill is expected in the satellite communities. Hence the impacts
were primarily on the large water and wastewater facilities and associated distribution
or collection systems. New separated stormwater systems would be developed at the
same time as the new growth areas and the impact on existing infrastructure would
likely be small.
Major facilities that will require expansion due to growth include:
• The Lake Major WSP will be well within plant capacity but reaching the water
withdrawal permit at the end of 2046. There will be a need for exploring additional
water supplies beyond the 2046 horizon.
• The potential demand at the Bennery Lake WSP is predicted to surpass the safe
yield and water withdrawal permit by 2016 and the plant’s capacity between 2021-
2026. Therefore, during the timeframe of the IRP there is a need to expand the
Bennery Lake WSP, increase safe yield of the lake (e.g. using a dam or pumping
from Grand Lake), and submit an application to NSE to request an increase in the
Water Withdrawal Permit.
• The RWWFP recommended a plan that provides a regional wastewater strategy
with upgrades required at a number of WWTFs as well as linking conveyance
systems. WWTF expansion will be required as follows:
- Dartmouth – A 16.06 ML/d capacity expansion (2021 - 2026 horizon).
- Herring Cove – A 53.55 ML/d capacity expansion (2031 - 2036 horizon).
- Aerotech – A further 4.65 ML/d capacity expansion (2031 - 2036 horizon), in
addition to the 3.00 ML/d capacity expansion project already underway.
• In addition, there are a number of growth-related water and wastewater projects
expanding transmission mains, pumping facilities and sewers.
ES 5.2.2
Regulatory Compliance
The second IRP driver involved consideration of current and future regulatory
compliance requirements for all three systems.
Revision: 2012-10-29 Integrated Resource Plan – Executive Summary ES-7
October 31 2012 Page 9 of 272