The Ontario Public Works Association recognized a range of municipal water and wastewater infrastructure projects during its annual Awards Luncheon on May 13 in Mississauga.
The OPWA, which has represented Ontario’s public works sector for more than 60 years, highlighted various projects, including those focused on stormwater management, wastewater treatment, drinking water reliability, sewer rehabilitation and climate resilience.
Small Communities Award winners
The Town of Pelham, alongside Montrose Environmental, now Onterris, and Oakridge Group Inc., received a Small Communities Award for their Stormwater Management Pond Rehabilitation Program.
The program focused on rehabilitating aging stormwater ponds while protecting environmentally sensitive areas regulated by the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority. The work included erosion and sediment controls, wildlife relocation efforts, habitat restoration measures and sustainable construction practices intended to improve long-term water quality and ecological resilience.
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Another Small Communities Award went to Lakefront Utility Services Inc., CIMA+ and Landmark Structures Corporation for the D’Arcy Street Elevated Tank and Booster Pumping Station in Cobourg.
Commissioned in October 2025, the project combined a 5,000 m³ elevated water tank and booster station into a single structure to improve operational efficiency and reduce long-term environmental impacts. The infrastructure was designed to address future growth pressures while improving drinking water reliability and storage capacity.
Technical Innovation Award recipients
The City of Markham earned a Technical Innovation Award for its Comprehensive Sewer Pipes Condition Assessment Program, developed with Rapid Assessment Technology Services (RATS) Inc., and InfoSense, Inc.
The city integrated acoustic sewer scanning technology into its conventional CCTV inspection program, allowing staff to identify blockages more efficiently and prioritize maintenance work. The condition-based approach is projected to save approximately $3 million over 10 years while reducing sewer backup incidents.
A second Technical Innovation Award recognized Oxford County, R.V. Anderson Associates Limited and ASCO Construction (Toronto) Ltd. for upgrades to the Drumbo Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The project converted the plant’s treatment system from a sequential batch reactor process to a membrane bioreactor system while maintaining operations within a highly constrained site footprint. The upgraded facility was designed to improve treatment capacity, operational redundancy and long-term efficiency.
Environment Award projects
The City of Vaughan, Resilient Consulting Corporation and Varcon Construction received an Environment Award for stormwater management improvements at Gallanough Park.
The project introduced an underground storage facility beneath the park capable of storing approximately 9,000 m³ of stormwater to reduce downstream flooding while preserving recreational space above ground. The system successfully mitigated flooding during two major storm events shortly after construction.
EXP, working with Tribute Communities and Baseline Constructors Inc., assisted the Township of Adjala-Tosorontio in winning an Environment Award for the Colgan Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Located within a planned residential development, the enclosed treatment facility uses nanofiltration technology and incorporates odour control systems and architectural features intended to blend with the surrounding community. The project also includes a public education component designed to improve awareness of wastewater treatment processes.
The City of Toronto, Jacobs, Ward and Burke and EBJV team were recognized with an Environment Award for the Fairbank Silverthorn Storm Trunk Tunnel project.
The large-scale flood mitigation project included a 2.4-kilometre storm tunnel and new storm sewer infrastructure intended to reduce basement flooding risks for more than 4,500 properties and improve resilience against 100-year storm events.
Emergency rehabilitation and repair projects highlighted
Several emergency water and wastewater rehabilitation projects were also recognized during the event.
The Regional Municipality of Niagara, Robinson Consultants Inc., Pullman Services and Simpson Gumpertz & Heger were honoured for the Niagara Falls Water Treatment Plant Reservoir Inlet and Outlet Pipe Emergency Repair project. The trenchless rehabilitation restored deteriorated reservoir connections while maintaining uninterrupted water service.
The City of Hamilton, alongside Robinson Consultants Inc. and Structural Technologies, was recognized for the Woodward Greenhill Transmission Main Emergency Rehabilitation project. The emergency carbon-fibre reinforced polymer rehabilitation preserved a critical watermain serving roughly 60% of Hamilton residents.
Additionally, the City of Kitchener, Andrews Engineering, J. Weber Contracting Limited and Capital Infrastructure Group were recognized for the emergency repair and rehabilitation of the Ottawa Street trunk sanitary sewer following a major pipe collapse.
The project involved rapid bypass operations, emergency replacement work and a broader rehabilitation program that ultimately led the city to expand its investment in sewer monitoring, inspection and data-driven infrastructure planning.
In addition to project-specific honours, CIMA+ received the OPWA’s Supplier and Service Provider of the Year Award.
The complete list of winners can be found here.
