News release

Sewage Treatment System For Port Maitland

Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations (Oct. 2000 - March 2014)

SERVICE N.S./MUNICIPAL RELATIONS--Sewage Treatment System For Port Maitland


Residents of Port Maitland will soon have a new $869,921 sewage treatment plant, thanks to a funding partnership through the Canada-Nova Scotia Infrastructure Program.

Joint federal-provincial funding of $579,947 was announced today, Feb. 7, by Robert Thibault, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, on behalf of Gerry Byrne, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and by Peter Christie, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations. The Municipality of the District of Yarmouth will fund the balance upon formal acceptance of the agreement.

"The government of Canada is making infrastructure a top priority in our communities," said Mr. Thibault. "Through the Canada-Nova Scotia Infrastructure Program, we are investing in green projects that will improve our quality of life through the efficient treatment of wastewater and the creation of a cleaner environment."

Green Municipal infrastructure that ensures effective wastewater management and safe drinking water is a priority under the program. The majority of the federal and provincial funding announced to date has been directed to green projects.

"A clean environment means safer, healthier communities," said Mr. Christie. "This project will improve Port Maitland's wastewater system, clean up the environment and assist in meeting future growth."

The Port Maitland Sewage Treatment Plant project involves the construction of a central sewage treatment facility to replace four unreliable, on-site, cluster systems currently in use. The existing disposal fields were repaired in 1996 but are unable to keep up with community growth.

The new system will increase the number of households connected to municipal services and will offer a higher quality of wastewater treatment. The community will also see increased health and safety benefits as wastewater is diverted from ditches to the new plant for treatment.

"This project will greatly improve the efficiency of Port Maitland's sewage treatment system," said Christopher Perry, warden of the Municipality of the District of Yarmouth. "It is a much-needed modernization that will deliver greater environmental and health benefits to the community."

This is one of a series of approval announcements for projects under the infrastructure program. To date, 92 projects have been announced, representing an investment of more than $139 million. Additional announcements are expected as projects undergo environmental assessment and final approval.

The $195-million, six-year Canada-Nova Scotia Infrastructure Program is administered by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations. Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation is a member of the management committee. The Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities is represented on the program's management committee.