Review-Mirror

Thursday, August 3, 2017 Serving North Leeds and area since 1893 Vol. 126, No. 30 $1 incl. tax Canada Post Contract No. 40021501 A happy Westport Council took part in the groundbreaking for the building of new wastewater treatment infrastructure Tuesday when they celebrated the commencement of construction. From left, MPP Steve Clark, Councillor Jacky Brady, Councillor Mark Parliament, Mayor Robin Jones, Councillor Frank Huth and Councillor Gerald Schwinghamer. 75 units from 6'x6' to 12'x36' Easy year round access right in Westport 75 units from 6'x6' to 12'x36' Easy year round access right in Westport 75 units from 6'x6' to 12'x36' Easy year round access right in Westport 75 units from 6'x6' to 12'x36' Easy year round access right in Westport Soho's Self Storage Soho's Self Storage Soho's Self Storage Soho's Self Storage Soho's Self Storage 75 units from 6'x6' to 12'x36' Easy year round access right in Westport 43 Bedford St., Westport 613-273-8848 soho@rideau.net Mirror The Review By Margaret Brand The Review-Mirror High water levels from the record-setting 24 hour rain July 24 are continuing to affect water levels through the Rideau Valley (RVCA) and Cataraqui Region (CRCA) Conser- vation Authority's territo- ries. On Tuesday the CRCA lifted flood warnings on the Upper Beverley and Gananoque Lakes but retained flood status for other inlands lakes. "We have seen a bit of fluctuation but lakes are still mostly at extremely high summer levels. They are going to be high through the weekend," said CRCA spokesperson Krista Fazackerley. The high water has been playing with the vacations of the many boaters who were explor- ing the Rideau Canal on a through trip going north or south. Last Monday's rain kept boaters from going north or south for much of the week with Mer- rickville to Lower Nichol- son's and to the south through Chaffey's, Upper and Lower Brewer's and Kingston Mills the last barriers to through traffic. A week later, on August 1 the canal was fully reopened. For much of the week the issue for boaters going south was getting through Chaffey's. There, water was coming from New- boro and its surrounding lakes as well as lakes to the west including Devil, Kingsford and Canoe coming through at Bed- ford Mills. "The flows and levels are similar to what we would see in the spring-in some of our dams three to five times the amount of flow," said John Festarini, Parks Canada Ontario Waterways Associate Director. Festarini said diverting water coming through from Jones Falls through the Morton Dam had not been an option under con- sideration because of the existing flooding down- stream in that watershed. While there were extremes all over, there was less water from the Rideau's reservoir lakes, Wolfe Lake and Bob's Lake to get through the system. "In the context of this event those two lakes weren't hit as hard. That has helped," said Festarini who noted water man- agers have more closer to real time information on levels and flows with the installation of more remote monitoring equip- ment throughout the sys- tem. On Tuesday councilors, construction professionals and volunteers came together to mark the beginning of the build of Westport's new waste- water treatment plant. Ahead of the communi- ty is 120 days of project construction to create a large subsurface sewage disposal system, essential- ly a 25 –acre version of a domestic septic system. The project will be largely invisible to the public once it is completed but during ongoing con- struction in the next four months except for the delivery of some 6,200 truckloads of sand from a Tackaberry pit near See- ley's Bay to create the giant filter beds. Once the new system is in place wastewater will be treated year round with- out the concern of season- al fluctuations of the stor- age capacity of the lagoons and the high costs of electricity and mainte- nance to pump and spray treated effluent through nozzles at high pressure in freezing weather which the former Snowfluent system required. "The system will make it inexpensive and keep it simple. It will carry on and give Westport comfort for many years to come," said Westport resident Glenn Allen, who served as chair of the project's technical advisory committee which looked at design alterna- tives. Mayor Robin Jones had plenty of thanks to give •Continued on page 3 High water causes havoc with canal traffic On this Weekend Chaffey's Lock Craft Market See Page 6 Lombardy Fair See Page 7 Overlooking Lake, Locks & Falls at Jones Falls, Elgin Exceptional Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner 613-359-5500 Reservations Recommended. •Continued on page 3 Call 359-5660 53 Main St., Elgin duncan s TV & APPLIANCES Washer •4.1 Cu. Ft. High Efficiency •Large Capacity •12 Wash Cycles •Stainless Steel Drum Model #FFTW4120SW Dryer •6.7 cu. ft. •Quick Dry Cycle •Multiple Cycle Options Model #FFRE4120SW Continuing a 30 year tradition serving North Leeds - Delivery & Set Up Available TOP LOAD LAUNDRY Reg. $669.95 $ 599 95 Reg. $799.95 $ 699 95 Long wait is over as Westport breaks ground on new wastewater treatment system Saturday, August 12 140th Birthday Party for HOTEL KENNEY See you there!

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