Rural Municipality of St. Andrews, Manitoba

2009, the Province of Manitoba passed legisla- tion called the Red River Corridor which prohib- ited the installation of new or repairing existing septic fields in the area. The Municipality is now in the final construction stages of the South St. Andrews Wastewater Project, which will bring reliable wastewater service to approximately 2,000 homes that primarily relied on septic tanks and discharge fields. This is the culmination of 16 years of work to establish the design, funding, and partnerships to see it become reality. The system chosen involved partnering with a neighboring municipality to construct a force main for transporting wastewater through a low pressure system to the City of Winnipeg for treat- ment. This approach leveraged cost sharing with the Rural Municipality of West St. Paul, along with the existing plant and staff capacity of the City, to provide the service. St. Andrews expects the system to be functional in 2019 and gives huge credit to grants provided by the Canada/Manito- ba Infrastructure Programs, the Manitoba Water Services Board, and the Federal Gas Tax Programs. Total grant funding was in excess of 61 percent of the total project cost. The wastewater project also ensures that housing in south St. Andrews is environmentally responsible, and opportunities for development exist, if needed.While the project was imple- mented to address long term problems with leaking septic fields, it also opens areas of land Proudly serving the RM of St Andrews with Environmentally friendly DustGard since 1991 Fort Distributors Ltd, St Andrews MB Ph. (204) 785-2180, www.fortdistributors.com RURAL MUNICIPALITY OF ST. ANDREWS, MANITOBA for additional housing and businesses. The north area of St. Andrews, too, is looking at additional wastewater treatment capacity. To this end, the Municipality has undertaken the design of two new wastewater lagoon cells at the existing Petersfield Lagoon. Environmental approval has been received for the design and the expansion intends to be “shovel ready” early in 2019. There is likely further development to occur for housing along and near the waterways in the Municipality, and the lagoon services a majority of these loca- tions, so a study is being done to develop a long- term strategic development plan for this area. The Municipality is also addressing environ- mental stewardship in waste management at its two landfills. A recently implemented electronic reporting system for landfill attendants tracks refuse coming into each facility. The system uses wireless, hand-held devices to provide critical in- formation on waste streams and their quantities that will greatly assist in landfill management and future expansions. Recycling is also import- ant in each facility and St. Andrews is continually looking for opportunities and partnerships to divert recyclable waste from the landfill to be reused or recycled. Beyond the necessary infrastructure demands, recreation is another high-profile focus for fam- ilies and residents wishing to enjoy a fulfilling, vibrant life in St. Andrews. In addition to the waterways, which boast a world-class fishery four seasons of the year, recreation facilities for individual and team sports is another important undertaking. The Municipality has completed a Feasibility Study of the Municipality’s recreation needs. One facility in the north will see extensive