Musquodoboit harbour watershed studies information meeting

Musquodoboit Harbour Watershed Studies Information Meeting - Agenda

• Introduction (Bob Bjerke, Chief Planner)• Welcome (Coun. David Hendsbee)• Watershed study overview (Marcus Garnet, Senior

Planner)• Questions (Bob Bjerke and Marcus Garnet)• Closing Remarks (Bob Bjerke and Coun. Hendsbee)

Musquodoboit Harbour Arena Multipurpose Room7:00 pm

April 12, 2023

Musquodoboit Harbour Watershed StudiesInformation Meeting

19 June 2014

April 12, 2023

HRM Watershed Studies

COMPLETED/IMMINENT:• Hubbards• Lake Echo• Musquodoboit Harbour• Porters Lake• Shubenacadie Lakes• Tantallon

FUTURE:• Birch Cove Lakes• East Preston-Sandy Lake• Musquodoboit Valley• Prospect

April 12, 2023 Musquodoboit Harbour Watershed Studies

Study Area

Origin• 2006 RMPS Policy E-17 requires

watershed studies prior to secondary planning, to determine the carrying capacity and meet water quality objectives

• Community Vision Action Plan Goal I-1 is to explore options for water and sewer in the village core

April 12, 2023Musquodoboit Harbour Watershed Studies

Specialist Engagement• CBCL engineering, technical and planning expertise• Halifax Water costing and policy input• HRM planning and financial analysis• Halifax Regional Watersheds Advisory Board review and

recommendations to Community Council

Musquodoboit Harbour Watershed Studies

April 12, 2023

CBCL References - Groundwater• Ham, 1999. Geological Map of the Musquodoboit Batholith, OFM ME

1999-2. NSDONR.• McIntosh, 1984. Groundwater Hydrographs in Nova Scotia 1965-81.

NSDOE.• NSDEL, 2005. Water Well Records Database.• NSDEL, 2005. Pumping Test Database.• Pinder, 1968a. Hydrogeology of the Lower Musquodoboit River

Valley, Nova Scotia, Report 68-2. NSDOM.• Pinder, 1968b. Application of the Digital Computer for Aquifer

Evaluation, Water Resources Research, 4: 1069-1093.• Also geological maps

CBCL References - Receiving Waters

• Loucks & Sadler, 1971. “Exchange processes between Petpeswick Inlet and continental shelf waters: a preliminary report.” AOL (Canada)

• Loucks, 1993. “A snapshot view of Petpeswick Inlet water Quality”• Young, Walter & Gaudet, 2001. “Re-evaluation Report – Nova Scotia

Shellfish Growing Sectors 12-010 to 14-040, Musquodoboit – Lockeport.” Manuscript Report No. EP-AR-2001-4. EC, EPB

• Also general references

Community Engagement One of several initiatives linked to Community Vision MHRRA Infrastructure Subcommittee MHRRA engineer representation on Steering Committee Meeting with interested landowners/developers MHRRA Infrastructure Subcommittee analysis assisted by

HRM Finance


April 12, 2023

Milestones Watershed Study Final Report (2007) Follow-Up Study Final Report (2010) RWAB (March 12, 2014) Community Council (June 12, 2014) Information Meeting (June 19, 2014)

April 12, 2023

Why the second study?• Reduce service area• Optimize the general concepts and costs

presented in the 2007 study• Integrate local knowledge and expertise • Recommend potential servicing schemes

… all to allow development consistent with the Community Vision


Two Watershed StudiesFIRST STUDY:- Small-diameter sewer

with septic tanks- All existing low-

density plus higher-density infill

- Wide area (176 ha)- Medium growth


FOLLOW-UP STUDY:- Standard sewer, no septic

tanks- Some existing low-density

but mostly higher-density infill- Focused area (12.5, 70 or

126 ha)- Low, Median & High growth

Follow-Up Study Service Area

2023-04-12

Component Studies included…• Groundwater• Receiving waters• Surface water & eutrophication• Watershed feature conservation• Sources of contamination• HRM Stormwater Guidelines adaptation• Natural corridors & habitats• Riparian buffers• Development potential


Three serviceable parcels

Technical OptionsServicing:• Water only• Sewer only• Sewer and water

Sewage Treatment Plant:• Secondary with trunk corridor extension• Tertiary with no corridor extension


Piped Water Only – Potential Service Area

2013 Estimated Minimum Capital Costs+

Growth Scenario >>>Servicing Options vvv

2006 2026 Low

2026 Low-Med

2026 Med

2026 High

Central Pipe Hookups: 0 sewer0 water

320 sewer449 water

0 sewer 758 water

1316 sewer1444 water

2397 sewer2418 water

Central Water Only n/a $8.9 million $10.7 million 11.2 million 12.7 million

Cost/service n/a $19,743 $14,143 $7,727** 5,270**

Central Sewer Only n/a $23.4 million n/a* $28 million $32.4 million

Cost/service n/a $69,770 n/a* $20,991 $13,510

Central Water & Sewer n/a $32.5 million n/a* $39.2 million $45.1 million

Cost/service n/a $89,513 n/a* $28,718 $18,781

+ Also add approx. 10% for engineering fees, 4.3% net HST, and 2.35% for interest and overhead. Does not include any land acquisition costs.* Low-Medium Growth Scenario assumes cluster subdivision with disposal fields; 2 units/ acre net density** Water-Only would not enable enough density to meet the Medium or High Growth Scenarios.

Operating Costs• in addition to the capital and financing costs• paid by each landowner via regular billing • billing amount would be independent of metro area• estimated average: $520 per hookup• assumes 720 water hook-ups• plus a Wastewater Management District fee


Challenges• Very high costs to homeowners• Would there be enough new development

to ensure that HRM recovers all up-front capital costs?

• No external funding opportunities


Findings for Watershed• Up-river agriculture affects affects harbour &

watercourse• Local septic run-off affects lower rivers, harbour & inlet• Peninsula interiors have a groundwater recharge

function


April 12, 2023

Implications for Growth• Approx. 150-600 acres (60-250 ha) of developable land

within 15-10 minute walk of centre• On-site well & septic could enable 1.6 people/acre

(4pph)• At 2.4 people per household, this would average 0.7

units/acre• Could still accommodate over 250 more units (500 more

people) within a walkable distance• These are average gross densities• Cluster subdivision could enable more compact

densities in specific locations closest to the village core


April 12, 2023

RWAB/HEMDCC Resolution • Accept CBCL reports as background for future

community planning• Recommend that the Environment & Sustainability

Standing Committee request a staff report to consider:– a wastewater management district– a floodplain mapping study– routine testing of discharges from plants & stormwater systems– developing a plan for regular septic maintenance– water quality monitoring of rivers– recommending that the Province upgrade their water systems


April 12, 2023

Next Steps• Community Council conveys its

recommendation (originating from the RWAB) to the Environment & Sustainability Standing Committee

• Environment & Sustainability Standing Committee requests a staff report to consider the items raised by RWAB

• Staff prepares the report to the Standing Committee


April 12, 2023

RP+5 Public HearingTuesday, June 24, 2014, at 6:00 p.m. in the Halifax Regional Council Chambers at City Hall, 1841 Argyle Street, Halifax

Written submissions may be forwarded to the Municipal Clerk:• By mail: P.O. Box 1749, Halifax, NS, B3J 3A5• By fax: 490-4208• By e-mail: [email protected].

Written submissions must be received by the Municipal Clerk’s office no later than 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 24, 2014.


April 12, 2023

For more RP+5 information…• On-line at http://www.halifax.ca/council/agendasc/cagenda.php and by

choosing the appropriate meeting dates (May 20, 2014 and June 24, 2014)

• Paper copies can be inspected in person at: – Office of the Municipal Clerk, 1st Floor City Hall, 1841 Argyle St.,

Halifax – Bayers Road Customer Service Centre, 2nd Floor (Suite 2005), 7071

Bayers Rd., Halifax – Planning Office of HRM Planning & Infrastructure, 3rd Floor,

Dartmouth Ferry Terminal Building, 88 Alderney Drive, Dartmouth

• Arrangements can also be made to obtain electronic or paper copies by contacting the Clerk’s Office (490-4210) or Planning Services (490-4937)


April 12, 2023

Thank you!

Questions?


APPENDIXFinancial and Technical Notes

Objectives of First Study• Identify opportunities for development in

the community and on the peninsula between Musquodoboit Harbour and Petpeswick Inlet

• Develop a plan showing all land suitable for development, with recommended densities and services


Follow-Up Study Objectives• Increase assimilative capacity by addressing faulty

sewage systems• Optimize configuration for small sewage system• Feasibility and cost of central water only• Water supply potential of Musquodoboit & Little Rivers• Possible contaminant impacts on potential wells next to

Musquodoboit River• Achievable 5-10 year population growth, density and

distribution with on-site, piped water or combined piped services

• Analyze existing water quality data in Little River


Likely DevelopmentLikelyDevelopment

Low Growth Medium Growth

10-year horizon 300 units 165 units 660 units

20-year horizon unknown 330 units 1320 units

Open Space Subdivision

Conventional Subdivision

Cost Recovery Mechanisms

Existing Future

Plants CCC CCC

Trunk Pipes LIC LIC

Local Pipes n/a Construction

Risks• Septic systems on existing lots might be

unable to cope with piped water• Bromates or radionucleides might

increase treatment costs


Why the delay?• test case for piped servicing for a Rural

Growth Centre • important input to RP+5 • follow-up study• community representation in follow-up study• inter-agency discussions (Halifax Water)• Internal HRM discussions (risk)• community representatives requested a

delay to explore further options and costs


Musquodoboit harbour watershed studies information meeting

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