Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Government of Ontario has announced $970 million for 54 projects to develop, repair, rehabilitate and expand drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure.
Also, an additional $250 million will be available in a second round of applications starting on August 14, bringing the total amount in the fund to $1.2 billion.
“Our government’s historic investments in infrastructure are helping to tackle Ontario’s housing supply crisis and get more homes built across the province,” said Premier Doug Ford. “The investments we are announcing today alone will help get more than half-a-million homes built, including nearly 47,000 here in Peel Region.
“We’re going to keep working with our municipal partners to make the dream of homeownership a reality for more families across Ontario.”
In the first round of funding, the Regional Municipality of Peel will get $35 million for the expansion of the G.E. Booth Water Resource Recovery Facility, a project need to allow 46,784 housing units. It includes the extension of water systems and installation of new features, such as an aeration tank and filtering systems. Additional projects that have been approved for funding will be announced in the coming weeks.
“The Ontario Sewer and Watermain Construction Association applauds Doug Ford and the Ontario government’s continued commitment to building the critical water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure that is needed to address the growth-related pressures on our municipal systems and help build more homes across the province,” said Patrick McManus, executive director, the Ontario Sewer and Watermain Construction Association.
G.E. Booth currently processes an average of 518 ML of wastewater per day. Earlier this year, Peel Region council approved $130 million to increase flow capacity and with provincial funding, the wastewater capacity will be increased by 40 million litres per day, supplying up to 47, 000 housing units in Peel Region.
In this year’s budget, the province announced more than $1.8 billion in housing-enabling infrastructure funding..
“Recent flooding across the GTA underscores the real need for robust investment to upgrade aging water infrastructure and support sustainable growth across the region. This funding is essential to help facilitate more housing in Ontario, mitigate future risks and maintain the smooth operation of our critical infrastructure as the province grows. Our members commend Premier Ford and Minister Surma’s continued leadership in prioritizing water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure,” said Nadia Todorova, executive director, Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario (RCCAO).