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含羞草研究社檚 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含羞草研究社檚 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.

含羞草研究社淭his is the story of a really big port in a small city,含羞草研究社� said Mayor Herb Pond.

含羞草研究社淭he challenges of making sure the community scales up to support this incredible, growing port infrastructure含羞草研究社� is pretty hard to do if the community doesn含羞草研究社檛 have water.含羞草研究社�

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

含羞草研究社淎 world-class port needs a world-class port city if we含羞草研究社檙e going to meet our potential,含羞草研究社� 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.

含羞草研究社淚 will never forget含羞草研究社� 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,含羞草研究社� she said.

含羞草研究社淭he winter of 2022 was just tragic on so many grounds. And so this announcement is for them too.含羞草研究社�

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

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

含羞草研究社淭he previous Council replaced the water dam, it was well over 100 years old. There含羞草研究社檚 no point in replacing the water pipes, as we含羞草研究社檙e doing, if the dam fails,含羞草研究社� 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.

含羞草研究社淭here含羞草研究社檚 no small community, there含羞草研究社檚 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,含羞草研究社� said federal minister of Tourism Soraya Martinez Ferrada, who was representing Minister of Infrastructure Sean Fraser.

Martinez Ferrada added that Prince Rupert含羞草研究社檚 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.

含羞草研究社淟ocal governments face more challenges today because much of their infrastructure is outdated,含羞草研究社� said Kang.

含羞草研究社淚 want to say to local governments that we hear you, we含羞草研究社檙e listening and we含羞草研究社檙e taking action.含羞草研究社� 

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.

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檝e got 77 million reasons why I think I love you,含羞草研究社� the mayor said.

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