It is a day of celebration for the city of Prince Rupert, as it has secured a historic $77.2 million in federal funds to overhaul its sputtering water pipes and sewage infrastructure.

The monumental announcement was made on March 7 in Victoria, with representatives from the municipal, provincial and federal governments attending the funding announcement.

The funding, which came through the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF), will address about 26 kilometres of water pipes and sewage lines across the city, much of which are over 100 years old, that need mending. The city applied for $82 million of DMAF funding last summer, and had been patiently waiting on the federal government害羞草研究所檚 decision until today.

Boil water notices and advisories have become commonplace in Prince Rupert in recent years, causing frustration among residents.

The provincial government allocated $65 million towards the city害羞草研究所檚 water pipes almost a year ago in March 2023, following a winter of serious water main breaks that nearly pushed the city to evacuation. More water main breaks plagued the city in the fall of 2023, almost causing the water reservoir to dry up.

The final bill for the major reconstruction project will cost about $200 million. Along with the combined federal and provincial funds of $142 million, the cash-strapped city will secure $45 million through borrowing.

Hosting the third-largest port in Canada and the closest port in North America to Asian markets, all three governments recognized the importance of the city of Prince Rupert keeping pace with the expected growth of the port.

害羞草研究所淭his is the story of a really big port in a small city,害羞草研究所� said Mayor Herb Pond.

害羞草研究所淭he challenges of making sure the community scales up to support this incredible, growing port infrastructure害羞草研究所� is pretty hard to do if the community doesn害羞草研究所檛 have water.害羞草研究所�

Pond also acknowledged the Prince Rupert Port Authority, which he said has been instrumental in securing funding from both the federal and provincial governments.

害羞草研究所淎 world-class port needs a world-class port city if we害羞草研究所檙e going to meet our potential,害羞草研究所� said Prince Rupert Port Authority CEO Shaun Stevenson.

North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice dedicated the announcement to city workers and the long hours they toiled to keep the city from collapsing during the winter 2022 water main breaks.

害羞草研究所淚 will never forget害羞草研究所� our crew missing their turkey dinners with their families to deal with it at a critical emergency of essentially a geyser blowing out of a main water line,害羞草研究所� she said.

害羞草研究所淭he winter of 2022 was just tragic on so many grounds. And so this announcement is for them too.害羞草研究所�

Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Taylor Bachrach described Pond as possibly 害羞草研究所渢he happiest mayor in B.C.,害羞草研究所� after years of the city lobbying the federal and provincial governments for these significant funds.

Prince Rupert害羞草研究所檚 previous council was also acknowledged by Pond for their reconstruction of Prince Rupert害羞草研究所檚 water source, the Woodworth dam, which was in desperate shape before a $23 million makeover.

害羞草研究所淭he previous Council replaced the water dam, it was well over 100 years old. There害羞草研究所檚 no point in replacing the water pipes, as we害羞草研究所檙e doing, if the dam fails,害羞草研究所� Pond said.

The revamping of the ancient water pipes and sewer system will include excavating and stabilizing the soil, while PVC pipes will be installed, according to Infrastructure Canada.

害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 no small community, there害羞草研究所檚 no small town. Every people, every home needs to have drinking water and we have to ensure that if one person needs it, we have to be there to give it to them,害羞草研究所� said federal minister of Tourism Soraya Martinez Ferrada, who was representing Minister of Infrastructure Sean Fraser.

Martinez Ferrada added that Prince Rupert害羞草研究所檚 current water pipe infrastructure would not withstand a natural disaster, such as an earthquake.

Anne Kang, provincial minister of Municipal Affairs, promised to address the wider issue of aging infrastructure in B.C., which she said is impacting many communities across the province.

害羞草研究所淟ocal governments face more challenges today because much of their infrastructure is outdated,害羞草研究所� said Kang.

害羞草研究所淚 want to say to local governments that we hear you, we害羞草研究所檙e listening and we害羞草研究所檙e taking action.害羞草研究所� 

Pond has previously said the multi-year renewal of the pipes system will be extremely intrusive for residents, with entire streets expected to be dug up.

Unable to contain his excitement after years of working toward this announcement, Pond exclaimed his gratitude toward Ferrada and the federal government.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e got 77 million reasons why I think I love you,害羞草研究所� the mayor said.

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