News Release

April 6, 2004

FUNDING AGREEMENT FOR WASTEWATER TREATMENT PROJECT BENEFITS ENVIRONMENT AND CITIZENS OF THUNDER BAY

THUNDER BAY, Ontario - The Thunder Bay Wastewater Treatment Project is entering into the next phase of construction with a signed contribution agreement between the Government of Canada and the City of Thunder Bay, benefiting the environment and residents of the city.

The Honourable Joseph Comuzzi, Minister of State responsible for Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario, and Mayor Lynn Peterson, City of Thunder Bay, today confirmed that the $25-million joint funding agreement to support the Thunder Bay Wastewater Treatment Project has been signed. The funding will assist with the completion of the Pollution Prevention and Control Plan (PPCP), and upgrades to the Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP) as well as the sewage collection and treatment system.

“I would like to congratulate the City of Thunder Bay on the significant progress they have made on such a massive undertaking. Much has happened since we were here last July,” stated Minister Comuzzi. “This agreement is the first example of the new deal for municipalities at work in Thunder Bay. We are pleased to be part of this project to create a cleaner, healthier and safer environment for all those who rely on the Great Lakes for their water supply.”

The funding builds on the work already underway to upgrade the WPCP from primary to secondary treatment and allows the city to complete the work required to improve the sewer collection system and enhance the sewage treatment process.

"We appreciate the support of the Government of Canada," said Mayor Peterson. "As citizens of Thunder Bay and Canada, we can be proud of our commitment to the environment and the protection of Lake Superior."

To date, the city has contributed $16-million towards the Thunder Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant project that has been identified as one of the municipality’s top infrastructure priorities. This announcement has wide-reaching effects as it supports the Canada-US Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, the City of Thunder Bay Pollution Prevention and Control Plan and Canada’s commitment to the environment.

The Government of Canada contribution of $25 million, which was originally announced in July 2003, will be made through the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund (CSIF).

Through the CSIF, the Government of Canada works with provincial, territorial and municipal governments, as well as with the private sector, to meet strategic infrastructure needs throughout the country. The CSIF supports large-scale strategic infrastructure projects that improve quality of life and further sustainable growth. The fund also supports the Government of Canada’s ‘new deal’ for communities that will help make Canada a world leader in developing vibrant, creative and prosperous cities and communities. Since 1994, the Government of Canada has contributed $12 billion to over 20,000 infrastructure projects in Canada’s communities. This has helped leverage over $30 billion from all partners.

Contacts:

Trevor Hurtig
City of Thunder Bay
(807) 625-2438

Infrastructure Canada
Communications and Promotion
(613) 948-1148

BACKGROUNDER

THUNDER BAY WATER AND SEWAGE TREATMENT PROJECT

The Government of Canada and the City of Thunder Bay have finalized details on a federal investment of $25 million towards waste water treatment upgrades identified in the City's Pollution Prevention and Control Plan (PPCP). The total cost of the project is estimated by the City to be approximately $91 million. To date, the City of Thunder Bay has contributed $16 million towards the project.

The funding builds on the work already underway to upgrade the Water Pollution Control Plant from primary to secondary treatment and allows the city to complete the work required to improve the sewer collection system and enhance the sewage treatment process.

The Pollution Prevention and Control Plan, adopted by the City in 1999, recommends several modifications to existing treatment facilities, including upgrades to the Water Pollution Control Plant and to the influent works and raw sewage pumping station to reduce overflows of untreated sewage during heavy rainfall.

The treatment process utilized at the Water Pollution Control Plant will be upgraded to remove toxins identified under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act from the effluent. The waste treatment will now remove ammonia and will include a new ultra-violet chlorine disinfection process. These upgrades, along with the planned co-generation of electricity from captured sludge gas, will also assist the City of Thunder Bay and Canada in meeting the goals established in the Government of Canada's Climate Change Plan. By using the methane from sludge gas as an energy source, the facility will help to reduce greenhouse gases.

The City’s Pollution Prevention and Control Plan also aims to reduce the discharge of untreated sewage into several rivers and Lake Superior. It will help reduce instances of basement flooding. Upgrades to a number of combined sewer overflows and other improvements to the City's trunk sanitary sewer system will support these objectives. Additional facilities will treat water used to backwash the filters at Bare Point Water Treatment Plant before discharge into Lake Superior.

The improvements outlined in the Pollution Prevention and Control Plan are consistent with the mandate of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement between Canada and the United States, which sets a higher standard for the treatment of waste water to be discharged into Lake Superior than that prescribed for the lower Great Lakes. The implementation of this initiative will greatly contribute to the quality of life of the residents of Thunder Bay, and of millions of Canadians relying on the Great Lakes for the supply of potable water.

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