TORONTO – The Ontario and federal governments are providing more than $1.1 billion under the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund for municipalities looking to upgrade treatment plants and enhance water quality.
Ottawa will provide up to 50 per cent of the funds, almost $570 million, while the province will invest almost $270 million. Municipalities, First Nations and local services boards will cover the remaining costs of eligible projects.
READ MORE: Toronto sewage and storm water overflows regularly into Lake Ontario
Ontario recently announced it will triple its community infrastructure fund to $300 million a year by 2018-19, and said municipalities will be able to apply their grants from the fund toward their contribution for the water projects.
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The federal funding is retroactive to April 1, 2016, which the government said means projects can proceed without delay.
READ MORE: Sewage pollution of Toronto’s water among worst in Ontario: study
An initial list of 41 approved projects includes new water mains in Barrie, a new storm water treatment plant in Sudbury, updates to the snow disposal facility in Guelph and similar projects in Toronto, Brampton, Waterloo and Guelph.
The two levels of government say these projects will help ensure that communities across Ontario have access to clean and reliable drinking water, efficient wastewater systems, and healthy rivers and lakes.
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