Additional $4 million announced for water quality initiatives

Premier Roger Grimes and Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs Oliver Langdon announced today an additional $4 million to be spent this year for water disinfection.

"Government recognizes residents� concerns related to the quality of drinking water throughout the province," said Premier Grimes. "While the province had originally intended to undertake a $11 million multi-year commitment for water disinfection initiatives, we are now approaching $7 million after only four months into the program."

In May, 2001, $1.8 million was announced as part of a multi-year, $11 million commitment toward water disinfection projects throughout the province. It was soon increased to $2.1 million and has now reached $2.8 million.

Of the $2.8 million spent, 64 communities have received funding to date toward improving their water disinfection capacity. This averages $43,750 per community at 100 per cent provincial funding.

Minister Langdon noted, "The Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs has on file additional requests worth approximately $3 million and anticipates additional requests to continue. The $4 million announced today has the potential to assist an extra 100 communities this year at 100 per cent funding, up to $100,000 per community."

Government�s commitment to improving water in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador is further emphasized through additional projects of approximately $15.5 million, which includes seven water treatment systems.

The Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs is now in the process of hiring three regional water and waste water systems specialists and has allocated $100,000 to assist municipalities to attend training sessions related to water treatment and disinfection, sponsored by the Municipal Training and Development Corporation.

In total, approximately $22 million will be invested through the cooperation of the provincial, federal, and municipal governments this year toward water quality projects which will assist approximately 200 communities.

Media contact:

Rosemary Smith, Office of the Premier, (709) 729-6489
Lynn Hammond, Municipal and Provincial Affairs, (709) 729-4250

2001 07 31                    11:30 a.m.