February 11, 2015
Manitoba Government Invests in Water Services Projects Benefiting Parkland Region Municipalities
– – –More than $1 Million Invested in Water Services Infrastructure to Benefit Families, Businesses, Job Creation and the Lake Winnipeg Watershed: Minister Caldwell
Families and business owners in the City of Dauphin, the Rural Municipality of Clanwilliam-Erickson and the Town of Roblin are benefiting from improved water and waste-water systems as the Manitoba government invests more than $1 million to improve or replace local water supply and disposal services, Municipal Government Minister Drew Caldwell announced today.
“Managing access to clean water and appropriate waste-water disposal are essential for the economic future and environmental stability of our rural communities, and we are committed to projects that support these goals,” said Minister Caldwell. “These projects will improve the efficiency of local water services, and help attract businesses and families to these communities which will help them grow and prosper.”
The City of Dauphin is receiving $750,000 to upgrade the water supply pipeline and the Brown Avenue pumping station. Both projects are under construction and expected to be completed in the spring of 2015, the minister said.
The Manitoba government is providing $150,000 to the Rural Municipality of Clanwilliam-Erickson for a new radio frequency water metering system that will accurately measure consumption. This will enable the town to establish a capital reserve fund for future infrastructure projects, the minister noted. In addition, a new generator will provide backup power at the water plant in the event of emergencies.
The project in the Town of Roblin received $125,000 last year for a new pumping station to divert concentrate water from a new membrane water treatment plant to Shell River.
Through the Manitoba Water Services Board, the Manitoba government will share the cost of the projects with the rural communities on a 50-50 basis, said Minister Caldwell. The cost of projects in the Parkland area total more than $2 million.
“Providing a safe and adequate water supply for their citizens is important to Parkland municipalities, but these types of projects require partnerships in order to be successful,” said Doug Dobrowolski, president, Association of Manitoba Municipalities. “It is only through 50-50 cost-sharing that these important projects can move forward.”
“Dauphin has one aqueduct bringing water into town and one auxiliary reservoir/pumping system and both needed critical repairs,” said Mayor Eric Irwin, City of Dauphin. “These funds will repair both and secure our water supply for years to come.”
“In the 2014 financial plan, the Town of Erickson budgeted for the replacement of the old water meters with new radio frequency water metering system,” said Mayor Elgin Hall, RM of Clanwilliam-Erickson. “This system allows the reading of meters without utility staff entering private homes and flags leaks in the system. We are pleasantly surprised by the results. The cost was estimated at $300,000 and was shared with Manitoba Water Services Board.”
“Originally, the reject water from our reverse-osmosis water treatment plant was held in a retention pond then sent to our lagoon,” said Mayor Wade Schott, Town of Roblin. “The new pumping station diverts the water from our waste-water collection and treatment system so we can accommodate the collection of sewage effluent from the rural area. The project was cost-shared with the province and the RM of Shell River, and with the recent amalgamation it is a benefit to both the rural and urban residents of our new municipality.”
“Ensuring Manitoba communities have access to clean water while enhancing the quality of that water is a priority of this government,” said Minister Caldwell. “At the same time, we must ensure the protection of that supply and the environment through the safe and secure management and disposal of waste water and sewage. Working with municipalities, we are finding cost-effective ways to address the need for nutrient control at all regional waste-water treatment facilities and lagoons, which also supports our commitment to safeguard the water quality of Lake Winnipeg for future generations.”
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