SIOUX LOOKOUT — Several years’ worth of work is scheduled to start this spring on Sioux Lookout’s wastewater system.
That’s according to Mayor Doug Lawrance, who told Newswatch increasing the capacity of the existing water treatment plant is needed to accommodate the municipality’s growth.
“Our population has just grown steadily over the decades and continues to grow,” he said. “And the town expands and, as a result, the infrastructure needs to expand as well.”
In a media release, the municipality says the province has committed more than $16.6 million for the work (the municipality is responsible for over $6.1 million on top of that), which will include upgrading existing infrastructure, improving mechanical and other systems and bettering “effluent and solids management.”
“Together, these upgrades will ensure the facility continues to operate safely, efficiently, and in compliance with provincial and federal requirements as the community grows,” the release said, adding the work will make the system more reliable and strengthen environmental protections.
The project scope will also include extending municipal water and wastewater infrastructure down Highway 72, which is the main corridor into town from the southwest.
Lawrance said that work will further expand sewer and water service and build on work done about 15 years ago that connected municipal infrastructure to the Ministry of Natural Resources forest fire base. It also serviced a small subdivision and other existing homes and businesses.
He said, since then, a developer has been eyeing land for further expansion beyond that footprint — this work, Lawrance said, would bring infrastructure to that location.
The municipality’s media release said the expansion will “prepare the corridor for future serviced development,” and include water and wastewater mains and valves, an additional fire hydrant and redoing the road surface.
The project is still contingent on final agreements with the province being signed and regulatory approvals in place, the municipality’s media release said. Lawrance said the plan is for work to begin in the spring with the full scope taking two to three years.
Lawrance said the eight-figure amount from the province is significant.
“For a small town, that’s a huge amount of funding that would be very difficult for us, if not impossible, to do on our own,” he said. “So, (we’re) very grateful to the province for that.”
“It’s part of the continued growth and servicing of Sioux Lookout, and all towns have infrastructure that must be renewed from time to time.”
The province has also announced money for other local wastewater improvement projects, including in Kenora and Thunder Bay.
Media releases from the office of Kenora-Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford also highlighted over $4.2 million for water treatment plant upgrades in Mitaanjigamiing First Nation, north of Fort Frances, and over $1.4 million for wastewater infrastructure work in Emo.
