New Bothwell residents to limit water use as lagoon nears capacity, Hanover officials say

The Rural Municipality of Hanover has alerted New Bothwell residents to limit water use as the community’s lagoon approaches capacity.

The municipality posted an April 8 notice asking people to stop sump water from flowing into the municipal sewer system to lower the wastewater level.

Hanover’s Chief Administrative Officer Mike Primeau downplayed the lagoon’s status, saying staff are investigating and that “there’s nothing earth-shattering here.”

“We want everyone to live their life, but we’re just asking if they can reduce (water use), then please do,” he told The Carillon.

Primeau didn’t offer insight on measures residents should take nor did he explain the cause of the high water level.

He said there “certainly could be” a development moratorium put in place for New Bothwell if the lagoon reaches full capacity. Hanover is monitoring all community’s wastewater output, and currently Kleefeld is classified as having low development capacity.

Primeau pointed to the planned Red-Seine-Rat Wastewater Co-operative, of which Hanover is a member of, as a source of relief for the lagoon. The new wastewater treatment plant, built in Niverville, will serve 13 communities in six southeastern Manitoba municipalities.

The Carillon previously reported in February that Toronto-based construction firm AECON was awarded the tender for the $235 million project’s first phase. Hanover Reeve Jim Funk said at the time construction is expected to begin the summer after pricing is confirmed in April. The project is estimated to be finished in three years.

Funk couldn’t be reached for an interview by deadline.

Primeau didn’t know how long residents will be asked to limit water use. He said the water-use request was also sent to the kindergarten to Grade 8 Bothwell School.

“We’re investigating. This is very new, so we’re working with (Manitoba) Environment and Climate Change and with our utilities. Once we know more, we’ll post it and we’ll put it out for the public,” Primeau said.

Hanover School Division is aware of the notice and will assess the potential impact on students and staff, said HSD spokesperson Bob Wiebe in an email statement.

Utilities manager Barry Broesky declined an interview request.

A provincial spokesperson said Manitoba’s Environment and Climate Change declined a request on April 6 for an emergency discharge from the lagoon to lower levels because it was outside the designated discharge period and more sampling was needed.

Provincial officials inspected the lagoon and discharge route, the spokesperson said, adding the province is monitoring the situation.

New Bothwell resident and Ward 1 Coun. Travis Doerksen declined to comment on the lagoon’s status.