Rural municipalities can now fix water and waste water treatment plants that are in desperate need of repair, said Alberta infrastructure minister Brian Mason.
The Alberta government has set aside $545 million over five years to repair and update rural water treatment facilities.
“We strongly believe access to high quality drinking water and safe and sanitary water and waste water treatment systems is vital to growing strong and healthy communities,” Mason said when the government funding was an-nounced at the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties convention.
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Rural municipalities are encouraged to reexamine projects previously shelved because of reduced infrastructure budgets, he said.
Mason said he toured a waste water treatment facility in Nanton this summer and found that sections were being held together with boards and baling wire.
Association president Al Kemmere said there is never enough money for infrastructure projects, but the announcement will give municipalities access to much needed funds to upgrade and build new treatment facilities.
The funding will be delivered through the Water for Life program to assist water and waste water projects over the next five years.
Communities larger than 45,000 people are not eligible for the grant.
