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This article was published 30/9/2014 (2182 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Mayoral candidate Paula Havixbeck outlined her environmental platform Tuesday that includes reducing phosphorous contamination of Lake Winnipeg, setting a timetable for upgrades to the North End sewage treatment plant, and creating an environmental committee that works.

Havixbeck said Winnipeg must deal with the hundreds of tonnes of phosphorous that is pumped out of the North End sewage plant each year.

"Right now Winnipeg is the largest point source of phosphorous in all of the watershed area in Manitoba," Havixbeck said as she stood in front of the Pacific Avenue offices of the city’s public works and water and waste departments. "The city needs to take a lead role to reduce its ecological footprint."

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The city has a tentative budget of $550 million for upgrades to the north Main Street plant but the city has not set a start date for the work or set aside funds.

Havixbeck said she would impose a timetable for the upgrades to the North End sewage facility, a similar promise made Friday by her opponent Robert-Falcon Ouellette.

Havixbeck said city hall has studied the possibility of providing curbside kitchen waste pick-up but she would make it a reality for spring 2015.

To reduce the stress on the city’s sewage treatment facilities, Havixbeck said she would also explore the possibility of recycling "gray water" – waste water from baths, showers and kitchen sinks, and laundry and dishwasher discharge, which is then used for toilets and lawn care.

Other planks in Havixbeck’s environment policy include: banning garburators in new developments; eliminating the sale of bottled water at city facilities; installing water fountains/stations at civic public places, including skate parks and arenas.

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca