This release was issued under a previous government.
In Budget 2016, the Government of Alberta set aside $595 million over the next five years to help fund water and wastewater infrastructure improvement projects in small towns and rural Alberta. This funding will improve access to safe, reliable water supplies and enhance environmentally-sustainable wastewater treatment, while creating hundreds of jobs in communities across the province.
This includes more than $750,000 in funding for the Town of Rimbey to upgrade the local water and wastewater treatment facilities as part of the Alberta Municipal Water/Wastewater Partnership and Water For Life grant programs that saw increased funding by the Alberta government in Budget 2016.
“Access to clean drinking water and water-wastewater treatment systems is essential for all Albertans and their quality of life. Government is committed to ensuring Alberta families have access to clean drinking water and communities have reliable water treatment facilities.”
A $367,447 grant will support the drilling of two new water wells to provide an expanded source of safe, reliable drinking water for the community. Another grant of $418,608 will go towards improvements to the outfall channel at the wastewater treatment lagoon. Funding is provided on a “pay-on-progress” basis.
These projects will improve access to clean drinking water and upgrade wastewater systems in the area, and will create jobs for the local economy.
Alberta Government restores vital water and wastewater system funding
Previously reduced funding for these important grant programs meant that a number of projects were delayed in many communities. With this increased funding, delayed projects will move forward and hundreds of jobs will be created across the province.
Alberta’s Water for Life and Alberta Municipal Water/Wastewater Partnership programs ensure that Albertans have access to safe, reliable water supplies and environmentally-sustainable wastewater treatment. The Alberta Government cost-shares eligible projects with smaller urban and rural municipalities to help with the design and construction of municipal water supply and treatment, and wastewater treatment and disposal facilities.