Agency Seeks Bids on Temporary Water Pumping System

The Sydney Tar Ponds Agency is seeking bids on a temporary pumping system to manage brooks and other sources of water actively flowing into the tar ponds.

The water diversion system is the first step in a phased approach for the overall remediation of the south and north tar ponds.

Currently, two urban brooks drain directly into the ponds before reaching Sydney Harbour. In order to have controlled construction areas for work to begin, these brooks must bypass the ponds entirely and be redirected away from the work sites.

"Contractors need a controlled environment when mixing cement and other agents with tar ponds sediment," said Roger Larkin, project director at the agency. "We have a solution that is feasible and effective at managing the tidal estuary. We are ready to get this project rolling."

The construction areas will be blocked off in three stages. The first stage is from Prince Street to the Ferry Street Bridge; the second stage is from the Ferry Street Bridge to the narrows of the north tar ponds; and the final stage is from the narrows to Battery Point Barrier, located at the mouth of the harbour.

Walls made from steel panels will be used to block the tide coming from Sydney Harbour, as well as managing a variety of other water sources. In the event of a heavy storm, surplus water will drain into the tar ponds.

The design consists mainly of temporary pumping stations. The stations include four pumps that draw in water and pipelines that move water away from work areas.

The temporary pumping system will manage incoming water until a channel, which will be constructed within the solidified and stabilized sediment in the tar ponds, is complete. It is anticipated the channel will be ready to permanently direct water coming from the brooks to Sydney Harbour in 2013.

The estimated cost of the contract is between $30-$40 million dollars. The tender closes Friday, Nov. 28.

The government of Canada and the province of Nova Scotia signed a memorandum of agreement on May 12, 2004, committing the two parties to jointly participate in the remediation of the Sydney Tar Ponds and Coke Ovens sites. It is a $400-million agreement that specifies that the cleanup be completed by 2014.