The governments of Canada and Manitoba announced more than $39 million in funding for the construction of a regional mechanical wastewater treatment facility and collection network to service four communities in southeastern Manitoba.
The Red-Seine-Rat (RSR) wastewater treatment facility and conveyance system will provide the municipalities of Niverville, Taché, Hanover and Ritchot with a new regional wastewater treatment facility to help serve the current and future needs of a growing population. The work will include the installation of a wastewater conveyance system with approximately 90 kilometres of effluent pipeline as well as new lift stations and pump stations.
“Manitoba is home to some of the largest freshwater bodies in the world, and today, we are acting on our collective responsibility to safeguard their health. By investing in this novel wastewater treatment infrastructure, we are creating better environmental, economic and social outcomes for all Manitobans. This project is another example of what can be accomplished when all levels of government work together,” said Terry Duguid, parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and MP for Winnipeg South.
Once completed, the RSR project will result in increased capacity to treat and manage wastewater and stormwater, improve the environmental stewardship of the region and encourage continued economic growth. Further, the greenhouse-gas reductions achieved by moving these regional partners away from traditional wastewater lagoons to this new mechanical wastewater treatment facility will support both Manitoba and Canada’s emission reduction goals.
The Government of Canada is investing more than $21.6 million in this project through the Green Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. The Manitoba government is investing over $18 million and the contribution from the proponent is more than $70.2 million toward the $110 million in eligible project costs.
“Investments in local infrastructure are critical for the long-term economic and environmental sustainability of our municipalities,” said Reeve Stan Toews, Rural Municipality of Hanover, chair, Red-Seine-Rat (RSR) Wastewater Cooperative. “As neighbours, Hanover, Niverville, Ritchot and Taché are committed to working collaboratively to seed opportunity for all our residents, businesses, and the many organizations who call our region home. Working regionally on large projects like the RSR wastewater treatment facility ensures these investments are fiscally responsible for our ratepayers today and seed resilience in our communities for tomorrow. With the critical support of Manitoba and Canada, today’s announcement is a testament that co-operation at the local level can achieve hopeful and sustainable fiscal, social and ecological outcomes for the common good.”