Province Funds Upgrade to Oakland Lake Pump House

SERVICE N.S./MUNICIPAL RELATIONS--Province Funds Upgrade to Oakland Lake Pump House

The Nova Scotia government and the Town of Mahone Bay are joining forces to help ensure a safe and reliable supply of drinking water for the town.

Angus MacIsaac, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations, announced today that the province would pay half the cost of repairing the Oakland Lake pump house, to a maximum of $25,000, under the Provincial Capital Assistance Program (PCAP).

"We've made a commitment to work closely with municipalities and to address their local needs," said Mr. MacIsaac. "Our investment in the Oakland Lake pump house will help to preserve a safe water supply for approximately 1,000 residents in the town of Mahone Bay."

Built in the late 1940s, the Oakland Lake pump house was one of the first installations of the Mahone Bay Water Utility. Since that time, most maintenance was directed primarily to the mechanical plant, not to the building.

A recent engineering report found that the pump house's foundation facing the lake is seriously deteriorated. Ice has damaged the foundation to the point that it and the block wall are seriously cracked and in danger of collapsing.

"The residents of Mahone Bay need a safe and reliable supply of drinking water," said Joseph Feeney, mayor of Mahone Bay. "The Oakland Lake pump house upgrade will greatly benefit our residents."

The government of Nova Scotia recognizes that the cost of undertaking water supply and treatment, sewage disposal and solid waste management projects can place significant financial burdens on municipal governments and taxpayers alike. The Provincial Capital Assistance Program enables the government to share the cost of high-priority municipal infrastructure projects with the municipality.