Investing in an acoustic fibre optic monitoring system to help ensure clean water for Southwestern Ontario residents

LONDON, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Nov. 18, 2016) - Investing in Canada's infrastructure today will help create jobs, grow the middle class, and support a high standard of living for Canadians and their families for years to come. That is why the governments of Canada and Ontario have invested in the HELP Clean Water (Huron Elgin London Project for Clean Water) project to provide a reliable source of safe, clean water to residents of Southwestern Ontario.

Celebrating another important project milestone today were Peter Fragiskatos, Member of Parliament for London North Centre, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and Cathy Burghardt-Jesson, Board Chair, Lake Huron Primary Water Supply System. Mike Wrigglesworth, Senior Vice President of Pure Technologies, also participated in the event.

The focus of today's event was the completion of the Acoustic Fibre Optic (AFO) Monitoring System, which will help ensure clean water for Southwestern Ontario residents. AFO monitoring technology is an industry-leading system that monitors and records the deterioration of pipelines, which will reduce future costs by helping to identify and proactively repair pipes before they break.

Of the estimated $179,784,242 total project cost for the HELP Clean Water project, the Government of Canada is contributing $49,985,307 through the Building Canada Fund - Major Infrastructure Component, and the Government of Ontario is contributing $49,984,974.

Quick facts

• HELP Clean Water comprises eight project components, all of which are expected to be completed by Fall 2017.
• The AFO project component of HELP Clean Water was installed within the water pipelines that run for nearly 50 kilometres. It is the largest single project of its kind in Canada.
• The Government of Canada will provide more than $180 billion in infrastructure funding over 12 years for public transit, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, transportation that supports trade, and Canada's rural and northern communities.
• Ontario is making the largest investment in public infrastructure in the province's history - about $160 billion over 12 years, which is supporting 110,000 jobs every year across the province, with projects such as roads, bridges, transit systems, schools and hospitals. Since 2015, the province announced support for more than 475 projects that are helping to keep people and goods moving, connect communities and improve quality of life.

Quotes

"The Government of Canada is committed to engaging with regional partners to ensure that Southwestern Ontario residents have a reliable source of clean water. We are proud to support regional and innovative initiatives that will grow the middle class and help communities across Canada meet their key priorities as we build the Canada of the 21^st century."

- Peter Fragiskatos, Member of Parliament for London North Centre, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

"Having access to clean water is incredibly important. That's why our government is supporting the HELP program. And I'm delighted to say that the Acoustic Fibre Optic Monitoring System is now complete. This is a testament to the great things that can happen when all levels of government work together to support the community."

- The Honourable Deb Matthews, Deputy Premier and Member of Provincial Parliament for London North Centre, on behalf of the Honourable Jeff Leal, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

"An infrastructure initiative of this magnitude is only possible when all levels of government work
together as equal partners. We are grateful to our senior levels of government for their commitment to clean water for our region. We are particularly proud of our regional partnership, whose members had the foresight and fortitude to create HELP Clean Water. This regional initiative offers a unique and effective approach to regional infrastructure renewal and investment."

- Cathy Burghardt-Jesson, Board Chair, Lake Huron Primary Water Supply System

Associated links

Government of Canada's $180-billion+ infrastructure plan: http://www.budget.gc.ca/fes-eea/2016/docs/themes/infrastructure-en.html

Building Canada Fund-Major Infrastructure Component: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/prog/bcf-fcc-eng.html

Federal infrastructure investments in Ontario: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map-carte/index-eng.html.

New Building Canada Plan: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/nbcp-npcc-eng.html.

Building Ontario - infrastructure plan: Ontario.ca/BuildON

Twitter: @INFC_eng

Web: Infrastructure Canada