April 30, 2014
Province Announces Five-year Plan for Water, Waste-water Infrastructure Improvements
– – –Manitoba Municipalities can Benefit from Cost-sharing Water, Waste-water Upgrades: Premier Selinger
The Manitoba government is investing $84 million over the next five years to improve and upgrade water and waste-water facilities in more urban and rural communities outside of Winnipeg, Premier Greg Selinger announced today.
“Clean water is a basic necessity that is crucial to the health of all Manitobans. A healthy water supply also plays a significant role in attracting business opportunities in growing communities,” said Premier Selinger. “As the province continues to promote steady growth and good jobs in communities with rising populations and expanding businesses, many Manitoba municipalities must modernize and expand water and waste-water treatment facilities to keep pace.”
It is expected that ongoing plans to upgrade or build new water and waste-water treatment facilities throughout the province will complement additional provincial conservation efforts to improve and sustain the health of Lake Winnipeg and other waterways, he added.
New projects that will be launched include:
- $1.5 million for water supply upgrades in the RM of MacDonald toexpand the pipeline to Oak Bluff from the Sanford water plant, and reservoir expansion in Oak Bluff to meet increasing water demand;
- $2.3 million for a new waste-water lagoon and infrastructure for the RM of Sifton and the Town of Oak Lake; and
- $1,050,000 for upgrades and expansion of the waste-water lagoon in the local government district of Pinawa that will benefit residents and the Tim Horton’s children’s camp.
Premier Selinger said the Manitoba government is working with municipalities and the federal government to prioritize upgrading or replacing waste-water treatment facilities in communities like Selkirk, Virden and Thompson. The province is also working in partnership with the Cartier Regional Water Co-op to construct a new water treatment plant in the RM of Headingley to meet increasing water demands in the surrounding municipalities and CentrePort.
“Clean water is critical for the health and safety of our citizens as well as the growth of our communities,” said Doug Dobrowolski, president, the Association of Manitoba Municipalities. “Investments in water and waste-water infrastructure allow municipalities to remain sustainable while attracting new business.”
The province will soon be sending letters to all municipalities encouraging them to identify potential water and waste-water projects that could be cost-shared in the future.
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