Municipal Affairs
July 18, 2013
The Provincial Government continues to demonstrate a strong commitment to the delivery of safe and high-quality drinking water to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador through an investment of $370,000 cost-shared with the Town of Wabana. The funding will be used for the purchase of a Potable Water Dispensing Unit, which will service residents of the town.
“As a government, we are committed to working with communities to provide safe drinking water to their residents, and we have demonstrated this time and time again over the last decade,” said the Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Minister of Municipal Affairs. “This new unit is a great example of the investments we continue to make in water infrastructure throughout the province. In fact, since 2008 we have committed over $50 million for more than 70 water improvement projects which will benefit the people of Newfoundland and Labrador for years to come.”
In 2008, the Provincial Government commenced a process to develop a comprehensive overview of water quality issues and identified Potable Water Dispensing Units as a way to provide high quality drinking water to smaller communities. These small-scale water treatment systems pump and treat water from the municipal supply, store the treated water and allow residents to manually collect the water from a small shelter.
“This investment in water infrastructure is welcomed by the people of Wabana, and will improve the quality of water in the community,” said David Brazil, MHA for Conception Bay East - Bell Island. “This new water dispensing unit is a great piece of technology. It will supplement the local supply, and will allow residents to collect the drinking water they require.”
Investments have been made in Potable Water Dispensing Units for 12 communities: Fox Roost-Margaree; Isle aux Morts; Lawn; Leading Tickles; Makkovik; Mary’s Harbour; Point May; Postville; Rigolet; Seal Cove, Fortune Bay; and Whiteway. These units provide an affordable solution for communities who in the past have had long-standing boil water advisories.
In 2012, the Potable Water Dispensing Unit Program was awarded Project of the Year by the Atlantic Canada Water and Wastewater Association, recognizing the work of Municipal Affairs Team and partners from the Department of Environment and Conservation and CBCL Ltd. Engineering Consultants.
Media contacts:
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Hugh Donnan Director of Communications Department of Municipal Affairs 709-729-1983, 725-6511 hughdonnan@gov.nl.ca |
Mary Anne Dillon Constituency Assistant to David Brazil, MHA for Conception Bay East – Bell Island 709-729-0334 maryannedillon@gov.nl.ca |
2013 07 18 2:25 p.m.