The repairs at the Wheatley Water Treatment Plant have missed their deadline.
At the Sept. 18 Public Utilities Commission meeting, Darren Galbraith, general manager of the PUC, said the project was hoped to be finished at the end of August. It is now anticipated the work will be completed in November.
“Originally we anticipated rehabilitation would be done by Aug. 31. There have been some delays,” he told the commission. “We really didn’t anticipate the scope of the work required.”
The plant suffered a fire in September of 2023. The facility suffered extensive smoke and water damage
Initial expectation was for there to be long delays, as it was estimated just getting a new pump – which was the size of a desk – was going to take 12 to 18 months. The plant’s electrical system had to be pulled, tested and reinstalled as well.
A temporary water treatment plant has been handling the task of supplying Wheatley and area with water, after the PUC had received treated water from Leamington immediately after the fire.
Galbraith said the temporary plant is going offline next month.
“We’ll be going back on Leamington’s water system again,” he said.
He explained the reasoning is because winter is coming.
“We have to prepare for winter. Unfortunately, the treatment trailers, we rent them by the month. Because of delays, there will be some extra costs incurred,” he said. “We just need to get ahead of the winter months.”
West Kent Coun. Lauren Anderson, a member of the PUC, thanked Leamington for its ongoing support in this matter.
