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The City of Prince George wants you to help shape a new bylaw

An open house is scheduled for the end of this month
X_201901 januaryutilities photos from julie shrimptonSSUB Open House PhotosFlushing-t
(via City of Prince George)

Residents always want to have a say in what happens in their city and if that's you, here's your chance in Prince George.

As you may or may not know, the City of Prince George is updating the Sanitary and Sewer bylaw to help safeguard city infrastructure, the environment, the public and possibly lower sanitary sewer maintenance and wastewater treatment costs.

“A new Sanitary Sewer Use Bylaw would improve regulations concerning the materials residents, industry, and businesses discharge or flush down the toilet,” Director of Public Works, Gina Layte Liston says in a news release. “To the City, these substances are not out of sight, out of mind. Substances in the sanitary sewer system can have serious consequences on public health and safety, municipal infrastructure, and the environment. A new bylaw would update the list of prohibited substances, clarify responsibilities and enforcement, and also make provisions for education that would help encourage compliance.”

The sanitary sewer system is made of about 680 km of pipe that connects residential as well as commercial properties to the wastewater treatment plan as well as lagoons. 

Maintaining the system comes with a hefty price tag of $4.5 million per year and close to half of that amount ($1.9 million) goes to the operating wastewater treatment plan. 

The city also says another high-cost part of operations is responding to 500 service calls the City Utilities Division gets annually when sanitary sewers are blocked. 

The city is inviting anyone interested in providing input to an open house at the Prince George Civic Centre on Wednesday, Jan. 30 between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Presentations will be given at 12:15 and 6:30 p.m.

Following each presentation, there will be an opportunity for questions. 

All feedback will be considered by the city in the new bylaw as well as a summary given to the city council.