FCM's Green Municipal Fund supports the Municipality of the District of Argyle's wastewater treatment upgrade (10/01/2012)

Berry Vrbanovic, president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and councillor for the City of Kitchener, Ontario, and Greg Kerr, member of Parliament for West Nova, today announced Green Municipal Fund^TM (GMF) loan and grant contributions for the Municipality of the District of Argyle. The District put the $1.4 million in funding toward an upgrade that brought its wastewater treatment system into compliance with provincial and federal standards. The upgrade includes a system to recover heat from the wastewater, to help offset increases in power consumption from the new technologies now in use.

"FCM's Green Municipal Fund offers a range of resources and services that specifically address the sustainable community development needs of municipal governments," said Vrbanovic. "The financing and knowledge provided by the Fund supports the development of communities that are more environmentally, socially and economically sustainable."

"The Government of Canada is assisting municipalities across the country in achieving their goal of a cleaner and healthier environment for Canadians through the Green Municipal Fund," said Mr. Kerr. "Today's announcement is another example of how our government - in partnership with FCM - is helping the District of Argyle build a greener future for our citizens."

The municipality retrofitted its sanitary sewage collection and treatment plant system to introduce a sequence batch reactor and ultra-violet disinfection technology. The upgraded West Pubnico treatment plant, serving a population of nearly 2,000, now meets provincial and national standards for effluent quality without using chlorine.

The upgraded system also meets provincial standards for infrastructure extensions, so that old septic systems can be replaced.In addition, this innovative project added a recovery system that extracts heat from the wastewater to help heat the building.

Argyle is exploring best practices for managing not only municipal wastewater but also septage and sludge. Cleaner effluent will protect potable groundwater and improve the quality of the ocean water for recreational users, while protecting the commercial fishing and fish processing industries.

"The $1,400,000 received from the Green Municipal Fund is an important contribution to our $4,725,000 project.  These funds, along with a $3,000,000 investment from the Building Canada Fund and a $325,000 investment of federal gas tax funds, ensure that our waste water system in West Pubnico will meet current standards and allow for expansion in years to come," said Warden Aldric d'Entremont.

The Government of Canada endowed the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) with $550 million to establish the Green Municipal Fund^TM. The Fund supports partnerships and leveraging of both public and private-sector funding to reach higher standards of air, water and soil quality, and climate protection.

For information:

Green Municipal Fund Maurice Gingues Media Relations Officer Green Municipal Fund Federation of Canadian Municipalities Tel.:  613-907-6399 Fax:  613-244-1515	District of Argyle Alain Muise Chief Administrative Officer District of Argyle Tel.:  902-648-3293	Natural Resources Canada Patricia Best Director of Communications Office of the Minister Natural Resources Canada Tel.:  613-996-2007 Media Relations Natural Resources Canada Tel.:  613-992-4447