The federal and provincial governments announced nearly $7 million in funding for a series of water and wastewater infrastructure projects in three northern Ontario communities.

The Pays Plat First Nation and Biigtigong Nishnaabeg First Nation will share in $4.6 million for the construction of drinking water treatment improvements and a new water treatment plant.

The Government of Canada is investing more than $3.7 million in these projects, and the Government of Ontario is contributing $908,443 through the Green Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada plan.

Pays Plat will use the funding to replace outdated control systems at the water treatment plant. Chlorine dosing pumps with automatic switch-over capacity will also be installed, the drinking water reservoir and distribution valves cleaned, and the diesel fire pump motor replaced with an electrical motor to remove the risk of diesel contaminating the reservoir. In addition, new sand filters, low and high lift pumps, and distribution system valves will be installed.

These upgrades will improve the treatment and quality of drinking water, help prevent system failure and extend the life of the asset.

"I would like to simply say thank you to all the people involved,” said David Peter Mushquash, Chief of the Pays Plat First Nation. “The government people that our people talked to and the back and forth and planning and more discussions, that’s the way things got done, one less community with the boil water advisories."

On the Biigtigong Nishnaabeg First Nation, the existing water treatment plant will be decommissioned and a new water treatment plant built, complete with an infiltration gallery, a low lift station with wet well and low lift pump chamber, and a below-grade reservoir. In addition, a new conventional water treatment system, high lift pumps, fire pumps and a new septic system will be installed.

The new water treatment plant will be easier to operate and monitor, and deliver high-quality water and better fire protection for community residents. 

"This funding is a much needed initial phase in our project that will ensure we have a complete and functional water treatment system right from the source to the tap," said Duncan Michano, Chief of Biigtigong Nishnaabeg First Nation.

Meanwhile, the governments announced contributions of more than $2 million for sewage infrastructure rehabilitation in the Town of Atikokan, which is about 200 kilometres west of Thunder Bay.

The upgrades will improve the efficiency and capacity of wastewater treatment in the Town of Atikokan, and help to protect the Atikokan River. The project involves the rehabilitation of Atikokan's existing sewage treatment plant and five pumping stations. The work also includes the replacement of three blowers and an aeration system to reduce operating costs and energy consumption.

"The Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program Green stream funding will allow the Town of Atikokan to complete upgrades at five pump stations throughout the Town as well as complete additional upgrades at the Sewage Treatment Plant,” said Atikokan Mayor Dennis Brown. “The upgrades outlined in this funding will help to increase the reliability and improve the performance of the sewage system, all while decreasing maintenance costs and improving efficiency. "

The Government of Canada is investing $1,166,964 in the project, while the Government of Ontario is providing approximately $972,373. The Town of Atikokan is contributing $778,073.