| Is the recording of the open house on May 10, 2021 available? |
| Yes, the recording can be found on here. |
| Has the RMWB had any interviews with the listed contractors to ensure they are prepared and qualified to perform the newly required hook ups? |
| Yes, we contacted the majority of the contractors listed for the Fort McMurray area and informed them of the program and its requirements. |
| Can we obtain multiple estimates, or are we supposed to select one contractor and get one quote? |
| As part of the RWSS application process, a minimum of two quotes are required. The homeowner can choose to obtain multiple quotes upfront or one quote at a time. The homeowner must let The Rural Water and Sewer Servicing Application Committee know if multiple contractors are acceptable to the homeowner or if there is a preference of anyone over the other. The RWSS Application Committee will review the quote and only accept the one that is most reasonable and within the RWSS budget for the house. The homeowner has the responsibility of choosing the contractor or contractors. |
| How many people need to sign up for the system to work? We understand it’s a minimum number to maintain a low pressure what happens if there aren’t enough people signed up? Do we get pumped out until there is enough? |
| The RMWB has chosen to allow each applicant to connect to the system and increase the frequency of flushing the lines until enough residents connect. Our maintenance department will maintain the lines at more frequent intervals to handle the early low flow in the system. According to the Rural Area Water and Wastewater Bylaw 20/09, section 7, the subsidized trucking to collect wastewater will continue until the five-year deadline for connection. |
| Who covers the cost of decommissioning existing tanks and removal/disposal of existing fields/mounds? |
| The price of decommissioning the tank at site through suitable fill material is included in the program, the cost of decommissioning the septic field is with the homeowner. |
| Can a Contractor not on the Alberta Municipal Affairs’ Private Sewage System Installer Certification List be hired? |
| No, all contractors that wish to work on the RWSS program must be part of the Alberta Municipal Affairs’ Private Sewage System Installer Certification List. |
| Can a contractor not on the Alberta Municipal Affairs’ Private Sewage System Installer Certification List pull the permits needed? |
| No, as stated in the question above, the contractor must be on the Alberta Municipal Affairs’ Private Sewage System Installer Certification List. The Service Connection Design Guidelines as well as the Homeowner Service Connection Guide outlines who can obtain the permits. |
| Who oversees getting the appropriate permits and who pays for them? |
| The cost of the permits is covered by the RMWB. The contractor providing the quote to the homeowner must include their cost for getting the permits as well as the cost for preparation and coordination of getting said permits. The Service Connection Design Guidelines as well as the Homeowner Service Connection Guide outlines who can obtain the permits. |
| Is the warranty for the work available through the contractor or the RMWB? |
| All warranties will be dealt with between the homeowner and the chosen contractor. Please inquire about the warranties with your chosen contractor. Please note the contract would be between the homeowner and the chosen contractor. |
| Can a contractor submit the quote directly to the RMWB? |
| The homeowner must inform the RMWB that a contractor has been chosen and said contractor will submit the quote directly to RMWB. |
| Will the grey water tank still need to be sucked out? How often? |
| When connected to the RWSS system, the wastewater from the dwelling will first be collected in the first chamber/compartment also known as the Sludge Chamber/Compartment. Most of the solids settle in the first chamber/compartment and the liquid part (containing less than 1/8 inch of solids) of the wastewater goes to the second chamber also known as the Pumping Chamber/Compartment. This liquid part is pumped regularly to the Municipal Main by the pump. However, the solids also known as sludge, collected in the first chamber will have to be removed periodically. The time before it needs to be sucked out will depend on the use and care of the system adopted in each dwelling. The industrial average is three years. |
| Who creates the contract between us and the contractor? Is there a sample of it somewhere? |
| The contract is between the homeowner and the chosen contractor. As such, there is no sample contract available, but you can contact any contractor on the approved list for a sample contract.
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| Why is the RMWB not taking full responsibility for the installation rather than having homeowners choose a contractor? |
| This aspect was considered before the start of the program and after careful consideration, it was decided that the homeowner should control the timing and construction on their private lot.
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| Does the RMWB take responsibility of remediation after the work is done? For example, decks, patios, and landscaping? |
| The contractor must price the work to restore the site to the same or better condition than found and include it in the quote. Any upgrade to any part of the lot or building shall be homeowner’s responsibility and shall not be included in the quote.
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| Will material shortages or rise in material cost affect the contractors and the timelines? |
| Any industry-wide delay and/or price increase has a potential to affect any construction project. However, the contractor will consider supplier prices in order to provide an adequate quote. Once the contract is in place, the price will not change. As for timelines, it is up to the contractor to complete the project within the time given. In rare circumstances, usually outside their control, material may be delayed.
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| Why are there so many approved contractors on the provided list? |
| The Alberta Municipal Affairs’ Private Sewage System Installer Certification list contains contractors across the entire province and is updated regularly. However, the list of approved contractors in Fort McMurray is substantially low in comparison to the entire list.
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| Who is responsible for any code upgrades or panel upgrades? What is considered an upgrade? |
| Under the Service Connection Plan Approved by the RMWB Council, upgrades to existing plumbing and electrical system are not included. The homeowner shall bear the cost of any planned upgrades. |
| What is meant by a low-pressure system? |
| A low-pressure system means that the sewer pipe will operate under a lower pressure than normally used in pressure pipes. The Septic Tank Effluent Pumping System (STEP) adopted for Saprae Creek Estates and Janvier works on probabilistic theory. This system is also called “liquid-only sewers” as the wastewater flowing through this system is predominantly liquid. For more information, please contact RWSS Application Committee or Engineering Department through PULSE.
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| What will be the maximum pressure in Saprae Creek Sewer Main? |
| The pressure in the sewer main varies from location to location. It ranges from no pressure to 34 pounds per square inch (psi). Please note that the maximum pressure provided in the Virtual Open House on May 10, 2021 was incorrect and the correct amount is 34 psi.
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| Is there a danger of sewer backup going into the tank or house? |
| The system will have check valves and isolation valves installed to prevent back flow into the system. Please ask your contractor to explain how they prevent backflow. If you have further question, please reach out to RWSS Application Committee through PULSE.
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| How deep is the pipe in the road and how deep should my service pipe be? |
| The pipe within the road is at a minimum depth of 3 metres. The service connection pipes on your lot shall also be at a minimum depth of 3 metres to prevent freezing. If the pipes are not at least 3 metres deep, proper insulation will be provided. The Service Connection Design Guidelines includes the details on pipe depth and insulation requirements.
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| I just purchased land. Can I still apply for a field or mound system? |
| According to the Rural Area Water and Wastewater Service Connection Bylaw, section 8, “renewed or new permits to construct or to replace septic systems will not be issued. If a municipal pipe system is available at your lot and ready for connection, you must connect within the five-year period since the system was available and ready to your lot.”
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| How often will the new pump filter need to be pulled out and cleaned? |
| The cleaning requirement for the filter depends upon configuration of the pump, frequency of pumping and water use pattern etc. However, it is a good industrial practice to clean the filter every three years.
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| Can you please share the studies completed in Saprae Creek showing ground water contamination? |
| The only work done in the area has been geotechnical work as part of the installation of water and sewer lines within the road allowance. The responsibility to investigate and determine the quality of groundwater remains with the titled owner of the land.
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| If my old tank is in the same location of where the new tank must be installed. Is the cost of removal of the old tank and system included? |
| The cost to decommission the tank at the same location can be included in the pricing. However, any extra cost should be borne by the homeowner. |
| Will the price remain the same under any circumstance within the five-year period? |
| If the homeowner decides to connect to the service in the first year of the five-year period, the price will be fixed. It is $10,000 for the residents of Saprae Creek and $16,000 for the residents of Conklin and Janvier. The fee will be adjusted for each year according the Consumer Price Index. Please see more details in Appendix B of the Rural Area Water and Waste Water Bylaw 20/09. |
| Are you going to hold the contractors to the design drawings you have provided to ensure quality of the work when inspecting? |
| The contractor must design and construct the system based on the specific needs of your dwelling and must follow the minimum requirements as stated in the Service Connection Design Guidelines. The contractor is responsible for quality control and answers to the homeowner directly. |
| How long will new permits for private sewage continue to be approved? |
| According to Rural Water and Wastewater Bylaw 20/09, section 8 , no new permits or renewal of the old permits will be allowed if the lot has ready-to-connect to service connection stub. |
| How can the Municipality protect future homeowners if the current homeowners choose not to connect to the service within the five-year period? |
| According to Rural Water and Wastewater Bylaw 20/09, the funding is available for a period of five years. After this period, the owner of the lot at that time will bear the cost of the service connection. |
