New Water Treatment Facility Opens in Cape Breton
ENVIRONMENT/LABOUR--New Water Treatment Facility Opens in Cape Breton
A water treatment plant at Birch Grove was commissioned today for operation by the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.
The Birch Grove plant is unique because it was designed and manufactured entirely in Nova Scotia. Its treatment system, developed by Rawdon Technologies Ltd., removes solids and organic particles by using air to make them float, rather than by using chemicals.
Rawdon Technologies, the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation (ECBC) and the Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Labour joined forces to implement the Birch Grove project. Cape Breton Regional Municipality has a lease-to-purchase agreement with Rawdon Technologies Ltd. for the water treatment plant.
The Birch Grove Project was made possible with the assistance of ECBC and the Department of Environment and Labour. The ECBC Fisheries Restructuring Adjustment Measures (FRAM) Program provided a repayable contribution of $300,000 to cover a portion of the cost of this project. The Department of Environment and Labour contributed $20,000.
"The Birch Cove Water Treatment Facility is proof of the tremendous environmental technology skills we have in this province," said Environment and Labour Minister David Morse. "I'm pleased to say that Rawdon is one of over 430 environmental companies that make up one of the fastest-growing industries in our province."
"This project will facilitate the development of a new service and technology from a company which has the potential to become a major player in the water treatment market," said Rodger Cuzner, MP for Bras d'Or-Cape Breton, speaking on behalf of Robert Thibault, Minister of State for the Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.
"Our process offers significant technological advancement in the field of water treatment and we have excellent prospects for sales," said Barry Kennedy, project manager, Rawdon Technologies Ltd. "Having a fully operational plant to use as a marketing tool is a major advantage for our efforts to demonstrate the process to clients. The assistance and cooperation we have received from all levels of government has been vital to our success to date."
Rawdon Technologies Ltd. is a joint venture of three firms: Lynk Electric Limited of Sydney, ABL Environmental Consultants of Dartmouth and Trihedral Engineering Ltd. of Bedford. The company was established in November 1998. It will use the facility as a showcase for its water treatment system and aggressively market its products and expertise both in Canada and internationally.