An engineering firm will be looking at what to do about the two sewage lagoons on the Stratford waterfront, across the harbour from Charlottetown.

'People understand that we wouldn't begin looking at developing the area unless the Town of Stratford was working on this problem.'— Caroline MacKinnon, Stratford Towers

The issue of the lagoons has taken on a new urgency with plans underway to build a 39-unit, eight-storey condominium nearby. Sandy McMillan, chair of the town's utility corporation, said the waterfront property offers a panoramic view of Charlottetown, but the foaming, stinking lagoons have blighted it for more than 20 years.

"I'm not sure that I have to really spell this out, but it's a deterrent," said McMillan.

Caroline MacKinnon, director of marketing for the Stratford Towers condominium, said the company plans to break ground late this summer, and complete the project next year. MacKinnon said the lagoons always come up early in conversations with potential buyers.

"They're concerned obviously of smell, and of the proximity of the lagoon," she said. But despite those concerns, MacKinnon said she already has 23 confirmed buyers for the 39 condos.

"Such a prime location. People understand that we wouldn't begin looking at developing the area unless the Town of Stratford was working on this problem, and they definitely are," she said.

McMillan said the engineer's report by ADI should be finished by mid-July. Some of the options could include downsizing the lagoons and enclosing them with a building, moving the lagoons or piping the sewage across the harbour to the Charlottetown plant.

The report will cost $23,000, but the fix will cost much more. Most of them are expected to come with price tag in the $6 million range, and take two to three years to implement.