Plans for a single Regional Water Treatment Plant in Wellington just received an $18.3 million boost from the Government of Ontario.

Premier Doug Ford and Infrastructure Minister Kinga Surma visited the County Monday to make the funding announcement. The delegation was welcomed by the Mayor and most Councillors at Highline Hall in Wellington.

“This is a game changer,” said the Premier. “This investment and the new Regional Water Plant will provide clean water for the communities of Wellington and Picton for decades to come.”

“It will help the County get nearly 4,000 new homes built, keeping the dream of home ownership alive for more families.”

The municipality is planning for 4,200 housing units of all different types, including rentals, seniors communities, and long-term care spaces, over the next seven years. A further 4,500 housing units are on the books for the decade after that.

Minister Surma said the provincial target of half a million new homes across Ontario meant ensuring municipalities like Prince Edward County can address their infrastructure needs and start building for the future.

“New homes should not be built or approved without access to clean water, wastewater, and storm water water systems. We’ve heard from communities across the province that would like to approve new housing but need to address their water capacity issues first. Municipalities tell us that repairing or replacing and expanding pipes and treatment plants is a huge financial burden,” she said.

All told, the Ontario Government has announced more than $1.8 billion in housing-enabling infrastructure funding through HEWSF and the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program, as well as the province’s Building Faster Fund, which rewards municipalities for progress toward their housing targets.

“People want to live in Prince Edward County, but so many cannot find housing that meets their needs. We are desperate for a more diverse mix of housing in our community, and we will only get that if the municipality can expand its drinking water service to support development,” Mayor Steve Ferguson said.

“There is a strong financial plan in place to do just that, with a focus on ensuring growth pays for growth. We are pleased the Government of Ontario understands our vision and is willing to invest in Prince Edward County.”

The funding meets the condition set on the Design Award Tender for the Regional WTP approved at a fractious Council meeting August 27. The municipality is now able to award EVB Engineering a $2.5 million design tender.

Major Announcement — Maybe

In his comments, Premier Ford referred to Prince Edward County as a community “on the grow” which needs new homes to meet that growth. He alluded twice in his brief remarks to a major manufacturer building a large-scale plant in the area that could bring up to 2,000 jobs. He said he hoped to be able to confirm the news in a couple of months.

“Everyone wants industry to come and jobs to be created. We have some big announcements coming down the pipe in the next couple of months, I hope…A big company that might employ 1,000 or 2,000 people — and they will need homes,” he said.

Mr. Ford said his government will continue to work with County Council to make sure this community has the infrastructure it needs as it grows.

“We’re working with our municipal partners here in Prince Edward County and across Ontario to get more homes built faster,” said Premier Ford. “With billions of dollars in investments in housing-enabling infrastructure, our government is helping get more shovels in the ground to keep the dream of homeownership alive and help families find a home that meets their needs and their budgets.”

Future Proof

A single regional water plant has been identified as the preferred alternative by County staff and CIMA Engineers for servicing Picton, Bloomfield, and Wellington.

Decommissioning the Picton WTP at Chimney Point gives water users in Picton and Bloomfield access to cleaner drinking water drawn from Lake Ontario. After the Premier’s remarks, Director of Development Services Peter Moyer noted that raw water from Lake Ontario is easier and more affordable to treat for drinking.

“There’s industry in the area of the Picton Bay intake and the raw water quality there is not nearly as good as Wellington,” said Mr. Moyer.

He noted studies in which Quinte Conservation has identified as many as 280 potential contamination risks at the Picton Bay source water protection zone.

“50 years from now, there are going to be even more risks built up around Picton Bay so the wise choice from a quality perspective both short-term and long is a regional water plant sourcing water out of Lake Ontario.”