The federal government is stepping up with a major investment in Prince Edward County.
Thursday morning in Wellington, Bay of Quinte M.P. Chris Malette announced $20-million for the Wellington Extended Aeration Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The plant expansion support comes from the Build Communities Strong Fund.
Malette says municipalities in the region have financial challenges with large infrastructure projects.
“Wellington’s 1970s era wastewater, meaning their sewage plant,and their treatment system, is decades old and can only accommodate just a little over 2,000 people. Anytime in the summer, that number swells to well over 4 to 5,000 people.”
The plants capacity will grow almost three fold, from just over 2,100 to 6,000 residents.
“That system is strained to the max, plus there’s development that now will be unlocked. Really important day for The County and for the region.”
Below are comments from Prince Edward County Mayor Steve Ferguson.
“This new facility will do much more than increase capacity. It will use modern treatment technology to significantly improve the quality of treated wastewater released back into the environment. That means better protection for our shoreline, our groundwater, and the ecosystems that are so vital to the character and economy of Prince Edward County.”
Ferguson continued, “This project is also part of a broader, coordinated approach to sustainable growth. This funding announcement is timely as council prepares for a conversation about long-range water and wastewater infrastructure planning. Support from the federal government will help to reduce the financial impact that renewing critical infrastructure will have on County ratepayers.”
“This project is about building infrastructure that works today, tomorrow, and decades from now. It’s about ensuring that growth is balanced with care for our environment. It’s also about protecting the natural beauty and resources that define this place we are proud to call home.”
