TMCnet News
Greener wastewater treatment to meet growing community needs while saving energy and reducing pollutionNEEPAWA, MB, June 20, 2019 /CNW/ - Investing in green infrastructure helps communities decrease their carbon footprint and increase their resilience to climate change. It also helps safeguard public health, protect the environment and create a clean-growth economy. The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and Bill Karsten, President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, today announced $5.2 million through the Green Municipal Fund for a project to expand and upgrade the Town of Neepawa's wastewater treatment system. The project involves adding a Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor to the existing lagoon system. This will combine chemical and organic treatment processes to increase the town's wastewater treatment capacity by 65 per cent and reduce energy consumption by 1,080 gigajoules per year. The new system is also expected to keep approximately 30 per cent more waste from going to the landfill. This new system will not only accommodate the current and future needs of a population that has been growing steadily over the last decade, but also significantly reduce the community's carbon footprint. It will be one of the first post-lagoon wastewater treatment systems of its kind in Western Canada and serve as a model for other municipalities looking for innovative ways to repurpose infrastructure and create more efficient eco-friendly wastewater management. Through green infrastructure projects like this, communities are finding ways to protect the environment, optimize municipal resources and improve the lives of citizens. The Green Municipal Fund is funded by the Government of Canada and delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. Quotes "The Government of Canada and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities are working together to support innovative green projects that help build strong sustainable communities now and for future generations. This project to improve the Neepawa Wastewater Treatment system is a great example of how green thinking can go hand in hand with community and economic development, and we are proud to support solutions that improve people's lives while protecting the environment." The Honorable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities "Advancing innovative, sustainable solutions is important as we move toward a clean energy future. Our government will continue to work with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to support reliable efficent wastewater treatment projects that create jobs, meet growing demand and reduce pollution." The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Natural Resources "Municipalities, like the Town of Neepawa, are leading the way with green solutions that can be replicated and scaled up across the country for deep national impact. Like modern wastewater systems that make real people's lives healthier and safer. This is what today's announcement is all about – the federal and municipal governments working together to build better lives for Canadians." Bill Karsten, President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Related product Backgrounder: Project description Quick Facts
Associated links Green Municipal Fund: https://fcm.ca/home/programs/green-municipal-fund/about-gmf.htm FCM Funding: https://fcm.ca/home/funding/funding-for-canadian-municipalities.htm Government of Canada's $180-billion+ Investing in Canada plan: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/about-invest-apropos-eng.html Investing in Canada plan project map: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/gmap-gcarte/index-eng.html Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
SOURCE Infrastructure Canada |