The federal government is providing more than $33.4 million for wastewater infrastructure upgrades in Guelph, Ontario, that will increase treatment capacity by 24% and help accommodate thousands of new homes.
The funding, announced August 11 through the federal Build Communities Strong Fund, will go toward a new tertiary treatment facility at Guelph’s Water Resource Recovery Centre and upgrades to a major trunk sewer.
The federal contribution represents 40% of eligible project costs, which are estimated at $83.7 million.
According to the City of Guelph, the improvements are expected to provide enough additional wastewater capacity to support nearly 4,400 new housing units across the city by 2031.
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“Reliable wastewater infrastructure is essential to supporting a growing community,” said Tara Baker, chief administrative officer for the City of Guelph, in a statement. “With support from the Government of Canada, this project will deliver critical upgrades to Guelph’s tertiary treatment facilities, supporting the city’s long-term growth and environmental objectives.”
The new tertiary treatment facility will increase wastewater treatment capacity by 24% and replace the existing chlorination and dechlorination disinfection processes with ultraviolet light (UV) technology.
The city says UV disinfection will provide a more sustainable treatment process while maintaining standards for treated wastewater.
The project also involves expanding and upgrading the Waterloo Avenue trunk sewer. Work will extend from Silvercreek Parkway to the Water Resource Recovery Centre, crossing the Hanlon Expressway, as well as from Silvercreek Parkway to Edinburgh Road. The latter section will include a connection to the Wellington Street trunk sewer through Roland Street.
Larger pipes are expected to provide additional capacity for growth while improving the resilience of the wastewater collection system.
Construction of the new treatment facility is scheduled to begin in early September 2026, with the overall wastewater project expected to be completed by fall 2030.
“This investment helps Guelph plan responsibly for the future while protecting essential services residents rely on every day,” said Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie. “By securing federal funding for critical wastewater infrastructure, we can support housing growth, strengthen system resiliency and reduce pressure on municipal funding sources.”
Guelph MP Dominique O’Rourke announced the funding on behalf of federal Housing and Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson at the city’s Water Resource Recovery Centre, near the site of the future tertiary treatment facility.
O’Rourke said the upgrades will help prepare the city for growth while increasing the wastewater system’s resilience to climate change.
“As a former Guelph city councillor and former chair of the Infrastructure, Development and Environment committee, I know how vital today’s investment in wastewater treatment infrastructure in Guelph is to prepare our city for growth, enabling more housing and ensuring a more resilient wastewater system in the face of climate change,” O’Rourke said.
The city says the upgrades form part of a broader program of wastewater infrastructure investments intended to provide additional treatment capacity for future residential and business development.
