Ontario Construction News staff writer
The federal government is injecting more than $30 million into Ottawa’s primary wastewater treatment facility to enhance its electrical reliability and prepare for future community growth.
Ottawa-Vanier-Gloucester MP Mona Fortier and Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe announced the $30,560,000 investment on Monday (Aug. 24) for the Robert O. Pickard Environmental Centre (ROPEC). The funding flows through the Direct Delivery stream of the newly established Build Communities Strong Fund.
The infrastructure project will allow the city to overhaul the plant’s electrical distribution systems, including critical upgrades to the facility’s existing cogeneration plant. These enhancements will guarantee sufficient power is available to maintain all sewage treatment operations during prolonged power outages.
According to City of Ottawa data, ROPEC is located on Green Creek Drive and provides wastewater treatment for more than 90 per cent of the city’s population. As wastewater is processed, the facility produces biogas that fuels its cogeneration plant, which currently supplies about half of ROPEC’s annual energy requirements.
The electrical enhancements will also prepare the facility for any future upgrades or plant expansions necessary to support Ottawa’s growing community.
“The Robert O. Pickard Environmental Centre is one of Ottawa’s most important pieces of infrastructure,” Sutcliffe said in a news release. “It protects public health, supports new housing, and helps keep the Ottawa River clean. This investment will make the plant more reliable during extended power outages, strengthen its resilience to extreme weather, and ensure it can keep pace with Ottawa’s growth.”
Fortier noted the project will create and support jobs for Canadian workers while prioritizing domestic supply chains.
“By prioritizing Canadian materials, content, and suppliers, this investment will directly support the Canadian economy, strengthen local supply chains, and ensure that economic benefits are felt by Canadian businesses and communities across the country,” Fortier stated.
The Build Communities Strong Fund is a $51-billion federal initiative delivering infrastructure funding across three streams starting in the 2026-27 fiscal year. The Direct Delivery stream accounts for $6 billion over 10 years, including $1 billion specifically for a Local Impact Stream delivered by regional development agencies.
The federal project funding remains conditional upon the signing of a contribution agreement and the fulfilment of any environmental assessment and Indigenous consultation requirements.
