Senior levels of government are investing in better water and wastewater infrastructure projects in Windsor-Essex to help prevent future basement flooding.
Ottawa is contributing $6.1-million toward the 13 city projects which include upgrades to the Lou Romano Water Plant, separating existing combined sewer as well as water main and road rehabilitation in the Princess, Tecumseh Rd East to Adstoll area and storm extension to College and Crawford.
The province is pitching in $3-million while the city contributes another $3-million for the projects.
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens says the city was very successful in applying for the funding under the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund.
"We applied for 13 projects and we were approved for all 13 projects," says Mayor Dilkens
London West Liberal MP Kate Young came down to Windsor to make the federal announcement and says these projects are essential.
"I know that infrastructure, especially when you are talking sewers, it is not glamorous but boy is it important," says Young. "The federal government realized how important it is to make strong foundations for cities and that's what we are putting money into."
Dilkens says these projects wouldn't be possible without the funding from senior levels of government.
"This is about looking at how we can spend our money to have the biggest impact to prevent future flooding of basements and part of it is study-related making sure we gather the right amount of data and the right data and then that data will inform future spending."
Windsor Engineer Mark Winterton joins Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens and London West MP Kate Young for an infrastructure announcement. June 2017. (Photo by AM800's Teresinha Medeiros)
Essex County municipalities also received about $12.8 million.
The breakdown is as follows:
- Amherstburg received $3.6-million for the Water Treatment Plant Reservoir Upgrade and Redundancy Project
- Essex is getting $1.4-million
- Kingsville is getting $944,000
- Lakeshore receives $2.6-million
- LaSalle receives $937,000
- Leamington gets $3.4-million
- Tecumseh gets $1.6-million