The Honourable Elmer MacFadyen, Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs, on behalf of the Government of Prince Edward Island and Shawn Murphy, Member of Parliament for Hillsborough, on behalf of the Government of Canada today announced funding for a significant enhancement to Charlottetown's wastewater treatment capabilities. The project has an estimated cost of $16 million, cost-shared equally among the federal, provincial and municipal governments.
"The Government of Prince Edward Island is pleased to be able to assist the City of Charlottetown in funding this important initiative which will result in significant benefits to the community. Cleaning up the harbour will protect the health of Islanders and our environment and encourage continued economic development," says Minister Elmer MacFadyen. "Prince Edward Island is one of the only jurisdictions in Canada that treats all its wastewater. With this upgrade to full secondary treatment, we will continue to be one of the leaders in wastewater treatment in Canada."
"Further growth and development of the City of Charlottetown would be impossible without the critical infrastructure improvements announced here today. This expansion of the existing waste treatment system will support the city's developmental needs while promoting long-term sustainability," said Mr. Murphy. "The Government of Canada is pleased to invest in strategic infrastructure that will support a strong economy and a clean environment on Prince Edward Island."
The wastewater treatment system servicing Charlottetown consists of a primary treatment plant that has become outdated and no longer meets current standards. The plant dates back to the 1970s.
The current standard for wastewater treatment systems in Prince Edward Island is secondary treatment with disinfection. It involves a biological treatment process that removes 90 per cent of the wastewater strength prior to discharge. With the upgrade to secondary treatment in Charlottetown, as well as upgrades to the Summerside treatment plant, all municipal, industrial and commercial wastewater treatment in Prince Edward Island will meet this standard.
A significant benefit of upgrading the treatment plants is that chlorinated effluent from municipal systems will no longer be discharged into Island waters, as other forms of wastewater disinfection will replace chlorination. Since 1999, chlorinated effluent has been listed as a toxic substance under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. Therefore, upgrades to the wastewater treatment plants in the province's two largest cities represent a major advancement in protecting fish habitat and recreational use of Island waterways.
Through the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund, the Government of Canada continues to collaborate with provincial, territorial and municipal governments, as well as with the private sector, to invest in strategic infrastructure projects across the country. Investments made through the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund are directed to large-scale projects of major national and regional significance, in areas that are vital to sustaining economic growth and supporting an enhanced quality of life for Canadians. Under this fund, the Government of Canada has committed up to $15 million for three projects in PEI.