Brant to receive $12.5M in provincial funding for water infrastructure

The provincial government has announced $12.5 million in funding for water infrastructure improvements in Brantford, Ont.

The funding is meant to help wastewater treatment plants in the city upgrade to a UV disinfection and phosphorus removal system.

Beyond wastewater treatment, the funding is meant to provide homes, jobs and protection for the community in the event of extreme weather events.

The Minister of Infrastructure, Todd McCarthy, was joined by the Member of Provincial Parliament for Brantford-Brant, Will Bouma and the Mayor of Brantford, Kevin Davis for the announcement Friday at the Brantford Disposal Service on Mohawk Street.

“This is new to Brantford,” said Bouma. “Historically, as the mayor said, a lot of chlorine would have to be added in order to make sure that there are no pathogens going down the river towards the next community. And by having a UV filtration system, it kills all of that stuff without the addition of any chemicals.”

The province is providing $12.5 million to help pay for the upgrade, covering 80 per cent of the total cost. The project includes the new UV disinfection unit and a phosphorus removal system.

Duane Ayres, director of environmental services for the City of Brantford, said the transition away from chemical-based treatment is a significant step forward.

“The UV system will make it even cleaner, so it will remove pathogens and byproducts,” Ayres said. “Right now we are doing that with chemicals, and once the UV is there, the chemicals won’t have to be used anymore.”

Bouma added that the environmental benefits directly support local growth.

“The water that they take out of the river is now going back into the river cleaner than it was going in. It’s huge, not just for the environment and everything else, but for the priorities of Brantford to build housing and make all of those things a reality. It means that the river is cleaner and we can provide more people with homes and businesses with opportunities down the road,” Bouma said.

The mayor emphasized that municipalities along the Grand River share a collective responsibility to maintain the health of the waterway.

“We are all stewards of the ecosystem of the river,” Davis said. “We are all so dependent upon the river and the underlying groundwater system throughout the Grand River watershed. I think it’s important for every municipality along the watershed to do whatever it is they can to be able to preserve, safeguard and protect that environment.”

Construction on the UV system is scheduled to begin at the end of this year. The system is expected to be complete and fully operational by 2028.

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