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Sewer & Watermain | O H & S | Professional Services | Water & Wastewater
January 29, 2007
Infrastructure
Watermain breaks prompt public outcry
NIAGARA FALLS
Watermain breaks and investment in deteriorating water infrastructure are top of mind for the Ontario Sewer and Watermain Construction Association (OSWCA).
On tap for 2007 are dealings with government ministries, Workplace Safety Insurance Board (WSIB), locates and what executive director Frank Zechner calls “further down the pipe” issues.
A report released by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) in December supports the OSWCA’s contention that Ontario’s water infrastructure is crumbling.
“Investment is needed and the investment must come from the rate base that is being used by water services,” said Zechner.
Ontario downloaded water and wastewater services to municipalities in 1997, and transferred the title of all provincially owned assets in this sector.
“An increasing amount of watermain breaks is raising the overall profile of this issue, and the larger public awareness prompts more people to call and complain,” said Zechner.
The City of Toronto recently raised water rates by about nine per cent, but it is not expected to improve the current state of aging infrastructure around the city.
Toronto has 5,525 km of water pipes, 4,305 km of storm sewers and 4,397 km of sanitation sewers.
“These are the messages that we are taking to the MPPs at Queen’s Park again in 2007,” said Zechner. “We’ve taken (our issues) to the municipalities, to any level of government that will hear us out and we are working hard for full cost pricing of the overall water infrastructure.
“More importantly, we are ensuring that whatever revenues come from water pricing are also spent on water infrastructure.”
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