Waterloo Region to get $4.5 million for improving water quality, wastewater treatment, and flow of traffic
Posted Jun 24, 2021 04:30:00 PM.
It was announced today that the government will be investing $4.5 million through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ (FCM) Green Municipal Fund (GMF) to improve water quality, wastewater treatment, and the flow of traffic throughout Waterloo Region.
The region will receive $1.9 million to upgrade Hespeler’s wastewater treatment plane with a “membrane-aerated bioreactor to reduce operational costs, support future growth in the municipality, improve water quality, reduce energy consumption and cut down on treatment waste.”
The City of Waterloo is to receive $175,000 to study the risks of sodium chloride infiltration from Stormwater Management Facilities in the Laurel Creek sub-watershed.
“Water runoff flowing into stormwater ponds today has the potential to become part of our drinking water resources in the ground and the Grand River tomorrow,” said Waterloo mayor, Dave Jaworsky. “This testing will give us an idea of how effective our stormwater ponds are in helping to manage salt contamination and the potential to improve that performance in at-risk areas. Water flows across community boundaries, and we all have a role to play as stewards for this important resource.”
Another $2.4 million will also go to a new traffic system at 275 intersections throughout the region. This new system will improve traffic flow, collect data to better integrate pedestrians, cyclists, rapid transit, and emergency vehicles, which they say will lead to improved safety and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
