- Significant upgrading to the existing water supply and sewer infrastructure will be required. Where will the water come from and where will the waste water go?
- The number of small lots will increase the stormwater flowing into the man-made pond and subsequent drainage downhill.
- Adequate solutions are required to avoid overland flooding downhill into Blueridge Mountain, Watermark and Old Bearspaw.
- Why is Ascension not providing the necessary information to assess the impact of the number of houses and commercial area will have on existing utility systems. Do they require a separate system?
- The existing water and sewer infrastructure required to service the proposed development do not have capacity to handle added demands. Significant expansion is required that pose significant impacts to the local community. Developers MUST protect groundwater and ensure use does not exceed carrying capacity by mitigating the potential adverse impacts of development on groundwater recharge areas.
- “Require environmentally sustainable wastewater disposal practices to protect watersheds and surface/ground water quality. Wastewater treatment systems should not exceed the land’s carrying capacity.” RVC, County Plan – Amended June 23, 2022, pg. 23.
- We are considerably concerned with the watershed plan as proposed as existing properties in Blueridge and Watermark are located directly below and in lower elevation to the Conceptual Scheme Proposal area. More details on the watershed plan as development of this area will significantly impact the watershed channel is required. Also, the wastewater management is of concern and we recommend country residential lots similar to Blueridge Mountain Estate lots, so as to lessen the burden on the system.
- The water supply is another concern as with our current system and as proposed within the development area of Ascension, this will overtax the supply line to our community and to this community. Again, we request a more detailed water supply plan as well as country residential lots to best manage these issues.
- Water Drainage is a potential concern as much of the current natural landscape will be converted to impermeable materials significantly increasing run off. Also where is the massive level of sewerage going to be treated?
- Water supply will be another issue as the commercial development will require large water mains for use and especially fire fighting purposes.
Ascension’s wastewater and stormwater management plan will disrupt all acreages south of Blueridge Rise, trailing adjacent to the pond, south and down through to Watermark. - Watermark currently vacuum trucks’ solid waste out of the plant on a weekly basis. Ascension’s 800+ dwellings will increase sewage from one truck a week to 3 per day, then a new system will need to be piped in and reconfigured (4 years out). A new plant capacity that is 4 times the size of the current plant will be required, impacting Watermark community and area.
- Storm water will wash from Ascension Paved areas, through the drainage systems, down through both WaterMark and Old Bearspaw, resulting in a high risk for flooding of nearby communities such as Blueridge and Watermark.
- Fresh water supply, where does this come from? If from RVC and from the new plant, the Blazer Water Facility, then this will increase all water costs to all residents of the Blazer water system owned by RVC. This will also put pressure on RVC to provide a solution.
- Fresh water will not be supplied from Calgary due to current and future water supply shortfalls. The municipality and the presentation from Jordan Coppings (CMRB) states that if new water sources are not secured immediately for Calgary and area, then all water supply will be reduced to near zero by 2070.
- For communities currently serviced by Blazer Water & Waste Water systems, are we comfortable that the access to water, and structural upgrades, not to mention the location of the 3 fold expanded sewage processing plant located in the center of Watermark, will only be attributed to the new additional load coming on, or will it be shared across all users, increasing costs to all? Is a 3 fold expansion and a regional Wastewater treatment plant what was envisioned for Watermark?
More information and details are required for the proposed water supply plan, wastewater directive and treatment plan, as well as the area watershed plan. This information will have a significant impact on area communities.
