10-26-2021 - Clean water Infrasture City Hall
4310 Queen Street
AM P.O. Box 1023
Mayor Jim Diodati & 11111 Niagara Falls, ON L2E 6X5
Niagara Falls City Council -a- =; web site: www.niagarafalls.ca
(905) 356-7521 Ext. 4201
CITY OF GANAOA Fax: (905) 374-3357
4'4GARA FALLS jdiodati@niagarafalls.ca
No.12 October 26, 2021
Moved by: Councillor Vince Kerrio
Seconded by: Councillor Mike Strange
RESOLUTION
Support for a Clean Water Infrastructure for the Niagara River
WHEREAS our neighboring city of Niagara Falls, New York, by
the Niagara Falls Water Board therein, has undertaken an effort
described as its "Infrastructure Initiative," and
WHEREAS the said Initiative includes a "Request for Federal
Infrastructure Funding," and
WHEREAS the said request details the need for funding the
conversion and modification of the Water Board's Waste Water
Treatment Plant (WWTP), from a "physico-chemical process"
using activated carbon filtration, to an up-to-date biological
process, and
WHEREAS the WWTP is the largest remaining physico-chemical
treatment plant in the United States, and
WHEREAS the WWTP is inefficient and obsolete as evidenced
by the occurrence of July 2017 whereby "black water" infiltrated
into the lower Niagara River, threatening harm to the river and
Great Lakes waterways, and
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WHEREAS the said incident cast unwanted attention upon one of
the world's great natural wonders, to wit: our falls of Niagara, on
both sides of the international boarder, and
WHEREAS the day-to-day operation of the said WWTP has
become increasingly more costly, with the one recent example
being an extraordinary increase in the cost of Sodium
Hypochlorite (commonly referred to as bleach) from US $0.359
per gallon to US $1 . 18 per gallon, resulting in a yearly, and
unsustainable, cost increase of US $6,059.000, and
WHEREAS with the estimated cost of the conversion and
modification exceeding the sum of US $200 million, it is obvious
that without substantial support from New York State and the
United States government the project is not economically feasible,
and
WHEREAS approximately 13,140 to 17,520 gallons (109,657 to
146,213 lbs) of Sodium Hypochlorite are dumped into the Niagara
River yearly and with that this body recognizes the significance of
the initiative described above and wishes to publicly express our
support,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Niagara Falls, Ontario
City Council hereby formally expresses its support for the Support
for a Clean Water Infrastructure for the Niagara River and urges
the State of New York and the government of the United States to
do all in their power to provide adequate funds for the conversion
and modification of the Niagara Falls Water Board's Waste Water
Treatment Plant,
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AND IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED copies of this resolution be
forthwith provided to United States Senators Chuck Schumer and
Kirsten Gillibrand, to U.S. House of Representatives Member
Brian Higgins, and to such other elected and appointed officials
as the Niagara Falls Water Board may deem appropriate.
AND The Seal of the Corporation be hereto affixed. Carried Unanimously
.iimraTer 461"
APPY#r 41"1
WILLIAM G. MATSON JAMES M. DIODATI
CITY CLERK MAYOR
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