Water Services Projects Announced

The AMM office in Portage la Prairie was the setting for an announcement benefitting several Central region municipalities on Friday, December 19. More than $8.5 million was announced to improve or replace local water supply and disposal services.

“These projects demonstrate our commitment to support stability and economic growth in rural areas by investing in important infrastructure such as improvements and upgrades to water lines, water treatment facilities and sewer systems,” said Municipal Government Minister Drew Caldwell. “Not only will these upgrades improve accessibility to clean water and waste-water disposal, they will also help the communities involved prepare for future growth by attracting families and the businesses that create jobs and grow their economies.”

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 central area total more than $18 million, he added.

“The need for these types of infrastructure projects exist all across Manitoba and we are pleased that our members can cost share them with the provincial government,” said President Doug Dobrowolski. “It is only through partnerships that we can promote further growth and development in our communities.”

Minister Caldwell noted the City of Portage la Prairie received $900,000 to construct a new waste-water pumping station at the waste-water pollution control facility.

“The total cost of this project including engineering was over $3 million, so the $900,000 funding for this project is greatly appreciated,” said Mayor Irvine Ferris, Portage la Prairie. “With the new pumping station, we greatly reduce the possibility of a malfunction, improving waste-water disposal. These types of partnerships with the province help us grow our local economy by attracting new business and industry to our region.”

Other municipalities receiving funding for water and wastewater projects include Cartier, Macdonald, Somerset, Pilot Mound, Manitou, St. François Xavier, Stanley, Winkler and Austin. Reps from several of the municipalities also attended the announcement.

A similar announcement took place the previous day in the RM of Pipestone, announcing funding for Western District projects.

Posted on: December 22, 2014