Regina's new wastewater treatment plant is 40% complete

City officials are offering a progressreport on anew wastewater treatment plant, currently under construction on the west edge of Regina.

According toEPCOR, the builder of the plant,the project is both on time and on budget. It's also about 40 per cent complete.

Thesewage plant upgrade was at the centre of stormy public debate when the city opted to have a private sector company build and operate the facility. A referendum was held and voters endorsed the public-private partnership.

The city said the upgraded facility was necessary to fall in line with new regulations on how wastewater is treated across Canada.

"Construction includes three new bioreactors which reduce ammonia and phosphorous in wastewater, the refurbishment of the primary sedimentation tanks, as well as three new secondary clarifiers," a city release said.

The city estimates total construction will cost $181 million.

Regina taxpayers are on the hook for about $40 million.

Last fall,EPCORset up a construction webcam so people could monitor the project from home.