Heather Wright/The Independent

Population growth is fuelling the need to take a second look at the Lambton Area Water Supply System’s long-term construction plans.

LAWSS provides water to about 105,000 people in Lambton County including St. Clair Township, Plympton-Wyoming, Warwick Township, Point Edward and the City of Sarnia.

Many of those communities are expecting double-digit increases in the number of people in their communities.

In all, LAWSS expects to be serving over 128,000 people in the next 20 years – an increase of about 18 per cent.

According to figures provided by CIMA+, the company hired to complete the LAWSS Master Plan through the Environmental Assessment process, Plympton-Wyoming will have the highest population increase at 42 per cent, followed by St. Clair Township at 32 per cent, Warwick at 30 per cent and Forest at 20 per cent.

There is also expected to be significant growth in Sarnia and Point Edward at 16 and 15 per cent respectively.

“Growth has accelerated since the completion of the 2021 Master Plan, and this trend is expected to continue,” said Project Manager Matt Phillips in an online presentations on the LAWSS website. “A review of the 2021 Master Plan is needed to make sure that recent and future population growth is properly accounted for.”

Clinton Harper, LAWSS GM, ads: “The rebuild (of the 20-year master plan) is needed to ensure that LAWSS’ expensive and regionally significant projects are undertaken when they are needed and not too soon or late.”

LAWSS owns one water treatment plant in Sarnia, seven storage facilities, including reservoirs and standpipes, as well as four pumping stations.

Four of the member municipalities also own four pumping stations throughout the county.

The last master plan highlighted three projects to be completed over the next 20 years. LAWSS needed to deal with low pressure issues in East Lambton. That will require work to the pumping station. Work on the design of the project is already underway.

St. Clair Township is facing the same issues. LAWSS is already designing a fix for the West Lambton Pumping Station.

It also identified the need for work on the Watford Standpipe to increase pressure in the region. Work on that project has yet to begin.  

The Master Plan will also look to “identify additional capital project upgrades, such as new watermains, pumping or storage facilities,  needed to sustainably provide municipal water and accommodate future growth in LAWSS member municipalities over the next 20 years and beyond. “

“As growth is anticipated to continue in both the near- and long-term, sustainable improvements to water servicing will need to be logically phased. Additional infrastructure and improvements to the existing system must be in place in a timely and orderly manner to service approved growth over a 20-year planning horizon,” added Phillips.

While LAWSS serves much of the county, Petrolia’s water system serves Enniskillen and Dawn-Euphemia.