More than $32.3 million in joint federal, provincial and municipal funding will support 17 water and wastewater infrastructure projects across Newfoundland and Labrador, with upgrades aimed at improving municipal services while creating capacity for new housing.
The projects, announced under the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund (CHIF), include new water treatment infrastructure in Torbay, expanded water storage in Grand Falls-Windsor, and a range of watermain, sewer and lift station upgrades in communities across the province.
The federal government is contributing just over $13.1 million, while Newfoundland and Labrador is investing nearly $12.9 million. Municipal governments will provide approximately $6.3 million.
One of the largest investments is more than $5 million for Grand Falls-Windsor, where a new water storage tank will be built and an existing standpipe rehabilitated. The project is expected to increase water system capacity and enable additional residential development.
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In Torbay, more than $4.4 million in combined funding will support the third phase of the North Pond Water Treatment Plant project, including the installation of treatment equipment and commissioning of a new water storage tank to improve drinking water quality and reliability.
The remaining 15 projects will replace aging water and sewer infrastructure, upgrade wastewater lift stations, improve treatment systems and expand water and wastewater capacity in communities across eastern and central Newfoundland. Several projects are also intended to preserve existing housing by replacing deteriorating infrastructure while enabling future residential growth.
In Gander, two separate projects will replace aging drinking water, stormwater and sanitary sewer infrastructure. One of the projects, on Cotton Street, is expected to preserve 38 housing units while creating capacity for another 41 homes.
Lumsden will receive funding to replace its existing water treatment plant, while communities including Whitbourne, St. Lawrence, Winterton and Lewin’s Cove will undertake water and sewer upgrades. Other projects include lift station improvements in Glovertown and Old Perlican, watermain replacements in Summerford, Hickman’s Harbour-Robinson Bight and Newman’s Cove, and water system improvements in Bishop’s Falls and Hare Bay.
Federal officials said the investments are intended to address infrastructure constraints that can limit housing development while improving the reliability and resilience of municipal water and wastewater systems.
“The infrastructure behind reliable water and wastewater is the foundation for vibrant communities and getting new homes built. By working with the province and communities across Newfoundland and Labrador, we are ensuring important upgrades get done. This is about making sure towns from Old Perlican to Grand Falls-Windsor have what they need, for the families who live there now and the ones who choose to call it home,” said Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries and Member of Parliament for St. John’s East.
Barry Petten, Newfoundland and Labrador’s Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, said the projects will strengthen municipal infrastructure while supporting economic activity.
“Investing in and enhancing essential municipal infrastructure helps create the conditions needed for new housing development and sustainable community growth throughout the province. Through this funding, a number of municipalities in the eastern and central regions will be able to strengthen and expand their drinking water and wastewater systems, supporting our government’s commitment to building safer, more resilient communities. These projects will also generate opportunities for local businesses and contractors, whose expertise will play a key role in bringing these improvements to life.”
The projects are funded through the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund’s provincial and territorial agreement stream, a program announced in Budget 2024 that will invest up to $6 billion nationally in core public infrastructure to support housing growth and densification.
