FCM’s Green Municipal Fund supports the Municipality of Leamington’s Wastewater Treatment Pant

May 20, 2010

Leamington, Ont. – Percy Hatfield, member of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ (FCM) National Board of Directors and councillor, City of Windsor, Ont., and Dave Van Kesteren, member of Parliament for Chatham-Kent–Essex, today announced Green Municipal FundTM (GMF) loan and grant contributions for the Municipality of Leamington. The municipality put the $2,400,000 in funding toward the upgrade of the Leamington Pollution Control Centre (LPCC) to improve the quality of wastewater flowing out of the plant, and upgrade the plant’s ability to manage heavy flows during wet weather.

“FCM’s Green Municipal Fund offers a range of resources and services that specifically address the sustainable community development needs of municipal governments,” said Hatfield. “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. Van Kesteren. “Today’s announcement is another example of how our government — in partnership with FCM — is helping Leamington build a greener future for our citizens.”

The LPCC upgrade is one part of an integrated plan that also includes a 20-year sewer separation implementation schedule, which began in 2007 and is ongoing. The upgrade will see the plant transformed into a conventional activated sludge plant with the installation of modern, energy-efficient systems in three phases: installation of a new grit treatment system; conversion of the old mechanical system into a modern “fine bubble diffuser” system; and installation of new tanks to clarify the water. The third phase also includes the creation of a retention pond to hold excess water during wet weather.

The upgrade will also improve the quality of the water flowing out of the plant, reducing suspended solids in the wastewater by nine per cent. With improved water quality, residents, businesses and tourists will benefit from fewer beach warnings and closures.

The new wet weather retention pond will reduce the amount of water that bypasses the plant during wet weather by 75 to 90 per cent; in turn reducing basement flooding in the community. Improved energy efficiency at the plant will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and operating costs.

 “We are pleased to work in partnership with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the federal government in order to renew our infrastructure and protect our environment,” said Mayor John Adams. “This project will strengthen our role in environmental stewardship for years to come.”

The Government of Canada endowed the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) with $550 million to establish the Green Municipal Fund. 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.