Canadian government to fund Greater Napanee Water Pollution Control Plant expansion

The Government of Canada has announced joint funding to improve and expand the Greater Napanee Water Pollution Control Plant.

Hastings-Lennox and Addington MP Mike Bossio, on behalf of Minister of Rural Economic Development Bernadette Jordan, and Greater Napanee Mayor Marg Isbester announced the funding.

The joint funding in green infrastructure is intended to support healthy communities and create jobs.

The control plant currently operates at 94% capacity and upgrading and expanding the system will enable more advanced treatment, and allow the facility to meet increasing demands.

These upgrades to the water pollution control plant are intended to protect the Napanee River’s ecosystem and benefit Greater Napanee residents.

Bossio said: “The sustainability of small town rural communities depends on their infrastructure. For far too long, our municipalities have not had the support they need to repair and replace aging water and wastewater systems. Not only does this mean that they have had to turn down growth and economic development, but also that our environment has been negatively impacted.

“The funding for Napanee’s wastewater treatment plant demonstrates clearly that the environment and the economy must go together, and I am proud to see Napanee getting the investments it needs for a sustainable future.”

The Canadian government is investing over $14m under the Rural and Northern Infrastructure stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, while the Town of Greater Napanee will bear the remaining cost of the project.

Under the Investing in Canada plan, the government is investing more than $180bn over 12 years in public transit projects, social infrastructure, green infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and rural and northern communities.

Of the $180bn funding, $26.9bn is being spent on green infrastructure projects, including $5bn for investment through the Canada Infrastructure Bank.

Isbester said: “The expansion of capacity for our Waste Water Treatment Plant, made possible with this support from the federal government, will allow us to be on an excellent footing for commercial and industrial investment opportunities.

“It also is essential in our efforts to improve our environmental outcomes, while conserving energy consumption—something so important for municipal governments, and really all forms of governments.”