A project to help protect Greater Moncton’s drinking water is moving ahead, thanks to a joint investment by all levels of government.
A total investment of almost $22 million was announced on Monday.
Broken down, the federal government is investing $8.8 million, the provincial government, $7.3 million from the provincial government and $5.8 million from the municipal government in this project.
“The City of Moncton is responsible for New Brunswick’s largest municipal potable water supply,” said Mayor Dawn Arnold. “As we saw in the summer of 2020, blue-green algae presents a real threat to our watershed and this funding will ensure we take the required steps to minimize toxins and ensure the residents of Moncton, Riverview, and Dieppe have safe, quality drinking water. By equipping Greater Moncton with the required infrastructure, we are protecting our water supply to support our region’s continued growth.”
Moncton City Manager Marc Landry says in the warmer months, the City is constantly tracking for the blue-green algae, “We have the triggers in place if ever we have to ensure that we have enough water in our water reservoir in terms of temperature adjustments. We have all of these measures in place to make sure we minimize the risk.”
General Manager Sustainable Growth and Development Services Jack MacDonald says once this type of algae establishes itself, it is very difficult to get rid of, “It is temperature dependent. We are getting higher temperatures so I would suspect moving forward, we will see blue-algae bloom in the future.”
Finance and Treasury Board Minister Ernie Steeves says, “With these upgrades, we are protecting public health and equipping the city with the infrastructure it needs for continued population growth and economic recovery.”
MacDonald says, “The first phase is a research phase that requires us to take a look at different options, which options will work best with our particular water parameters, water quality. That will determine the methodology we use going forward to actually treat the water for toxins.
“Investments in essential public infrastructure are vital to building resilient communities. Improving Moncton’s drinking water system will provide residents with safer and more reliable water services for years to come,” said Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe MP Ginette Petitpas-Taylor.
