Rural communities get support to improve water services
Provincial government invests in Elgin and Middlesex municipalities
ST. THOMAS – Residents of six Elgin-Middlesex-London municipalities will be getting some help from the Ontario government to improve the management of the community’s drinking water system.
In all, local municipalities will receive $182,339 in investments from the province’s $12-million Ontario Small Waterworks Assistance Program Part Two (OSWAP-2). The program is part of the government’s ongoing commitment to support small communities and to deliver safe and clean drinking water to Ontario families.
Specific local investments:
• Municipality of Bayham, $40,020
• Municipality of Dutton-Dunwich, $25,000
• Township of Malahide, $40,210
• Township of Southwold, $27,109
• Municipality of Thames Centre, $25,000
• Municipality of West Elgin, $25,000
Funds will be distributed over the next four years to help manage operating costs for municipal drinking water systems with public drinking water systems serving 1,001 to 5,000 residents.
Funding will be provided following the signing of provincial contribution agreements. Communities must commit to undertaking at least one of a number of projects designed to improve the management and operation of their drinking water systems. These projects include business planning, asset management planning, leakage audits and local operator training.
“Investing in the management and administration of Ontario’s drinking water resources helps small, rural municipalities provide this vital service to residents,” MPP Steve Peters said. “I am pleased that several of our local municipal governments can benefit from this program.”
QUICK FACTS
• OSWAP-2 is the second stage of the $40 million funding program for small water systems announced on August 16, 2007.
• The first stage of the program, OSWAP, was launched on August 31, 2007 and provides $8 million in operating funding over five years for communities with public drinking water systems serving 1000 or fewer residents.