First Phase of Melville's New Drinking Water Treatment Plant Completed

MELVILLE, SASKATCHEWAN--(Marketwired - May 21, 2015) - With support from the federal Gas Tax Fund, the City of Melville has just completed phase 1 of its new water treatment plant. This included the construction of two new potable water wells. The wells will replace the surface water source the city had been using and now supply residents and businesses with a reliable source of clean, clear water.

The federal Gas Tax Fund provides predictable, long-term funding to municipalities to help build and rehabilitate their infrastructure. It is a flexible program that allows communities to choose and plan infrastructure projects based on their specific priorities. Funding is provided twice per year, and municipalities can pool, bank and borrow against this funding, providing significant financial flexibility. These projects improve the local quality of life and produce jobs, which contributes to the economy.

Last year, there were 169 active drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects with funding allocated from the federal Gas Tax Fund, supporting a total of 139 communities across the province. The projects range from water treatment plant upgrades to sewage lagoon expansion projects, to the installation of remotely-read water meters.

Quick Facts

• For the Melville project, the Government of Canada contributed $185,400 through the federal Gas Tax Fund to the first phase of the construction of the new drinking water treatment plant. The City of Melville contributed close to $1.040 million of the total estimated cost of $1.225 million for the first phase of this project.
• For the 169 water and wastewater projects, the total federal contribution currently allocated through the Gas Tax Fund, including the Melville project, is $28,160,589.
• Between 2014 and 2024, the Government of Canada will provide over $56 million in annual funding for municipal infrastructure in Saskatchewan through the federal Gas Tax Fund.
• Combined with investments under other federal infrastructure programs, Saskatchewan has benefited from over $1.1 billion in federal funding toward infrastructure improvements since 2006.

Quotes

"Since 2006, our Government has been investing in infrastructure projects that strengthen the economy and contribute to healthier, more sustainable communities, big and small, across the country. Thanks to the construction of a new drinking water treatment plant, the residents of Melville, as well as surrounding rural municipalities and First Nations communities, will continue to receive safe, clean drinking water."

"Our Government recognizes the importance of stable, long-term funding to help municipalities with their new infrastructure builds and the rehabilitation of existing systems. Last year, Melville and 138 other communities across Saskatchewan were able to embark or pursue on water and wastewater projects with the help of the federal Gax Tax Fund."

"Presently, we are able to provide our citizens with quality water. However, we are very much in a stress situation in that our water system is near the end of its functional life span. Federal Gas Tax funding has enabled us to prepare for our future by developing two new well sites as well as related infrastructure. This Gas Tax support has been graciously received by our City and now allows us to further explore the Phase Two development of a new water plant which has long been a major community and regional priority."

"SUMA has worked hard to ensure urban Saskatchewan has access to the federal Gas Tax Fund contributions, so it's gratifying to see these predictable dollars flowing into Saskatchewan's cities, towns, and villages. Every dollar counts in a municipal budget and we are grateful for this funding."

"The Gas Tax Fund benefits rural and urban municipalities by providing funding for municipal infrastructure projects that benefit residents and, in turn, our economy. The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities is pleased to see that these important projects were made possible thanks to the Federal Gas Tax Fund."

Associated Links

To learn more about the federal Gas Tax Fund visit: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/gtf-fte-eng.html.

For additional information on the New Building Canada Plan, visit: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/plan-eng.html.

To learn more about the Government of Canada's focus on jobs and the economy consult Canada's Economic Action Plan: http://www.budget.gc.ca/2015/home-accueil-eng.html.

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Backgrounder

The Government of Canada delivers for Saskatchewan

During 2014, there were 169 active Water and Wastewater projects in 139 communities in Saskatchewan that had a total of $28,160,589 allocated from the federal Gas Tax Fund.