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SUSSEX - The Town must wait for government money before it goes ahead with an upgrade to its wastewater treatment plant.

"We're waiting on funding," said Town of Sussex Chief Administrative Officer Mike Cummings.

He said the town and its consultants are reviewing the estimated cost of $620,000 for the project that will require cash from the federal and provincial governments under the infrastructure funding program.

The upgrade will consist of the installation of a new bacteria disinfection system.

Mayor Ralph Carr said with the upgrade, the effluent water that flows from the treatment facility into the Kennebecasis River will be cleaner than the water flowing in the Kennebecasis itself. "The whole purpose of the upgrade is to allow more purified water to flow from the treatment plant into the river," said Carr.

The town's permit to operate the wastewater treatment plant was renewed last April, with the requirement that the town begin the process to have a new disinfection system in place in the plant in order to meet growing provincial and federal environmental standards.

Carr said the town is on board to meet the new standards. "It means the town of Sussex will be doing its part to make our environment cleaner and greener," said Carr.

An ultra-violet disinfection system will be installed at the wastewater treatment plant in order to kill bacteria and viruses in the effluent, increasing the quality of the water that flows into the Kennebecasis river. The process is chemical free and kills bacteria through UV exposure to a specific wavelength of light.

"The town has completed a study on disinfection alternatives and concluded that an ultra-violet disinfecting system will be put in place," said Cummings. He said the plant, which treats the sewage of Sussex and Sussex Corner, meets current environmental standards.