N.S. Ingenuity Ensuring Clean Water for Sherbrooke

People in the village of Sherbrooke are about to reap the benefits of Nova Scotia ingenuity. A new water treatment facility will be built using Nova Scotia technology that will also benefit the Municipality of St. Mary's bottom line.

Provincial and municipal officials made the announcement at a sod-turning today in Sherbrooke.

"Sherbrooke's new water treatment facility will address this community's need for clean drinking water, and it will be built using Nova Scotia environmental technology," said Environment Minister Michel Samson. "This brings environmental benefits to the community along with opportunities for Nova Scotians."

Staff in the department's Environmental Industries and Technologies division worked with the municipality to find this made-in-Nova Scotia solution. The department contributed $5,000 toward a pilot study. It also contributed $36,444 to the municipality so that it can further develop the technology.

The federal and provincial governments also contributed $166,666 toward the project under the Canada/Nova Scotia Infrastructure Works program.

"Job creation is a consideration when funding infrastructure projects," said Ray White, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs. "There will be several local employment opportunities throughout the construction phase of the project. That is definitely a bonus to the community."

"This new water treatment plant will not only serve the customers of Sherbrooke," said Warden Ron Chisholm. "It will also benefit every student in the municipality who attend the two schools in the area. It will also serve our hospital, our senior citizens' complex, our nursing home, our commercial enterprises and Sherbrooke Village."

The system is a cost-effective alternative to conventional capital-intensive solutions. In this case, the conventional solution would have cost the municipality about $1.2 million. With Nova Scotia's own MG Environmental Equipment Ltd., the project will come in at $448,000.

"Our company takes great pride in the fact that Nova Scotians are proving over and over again they can provide cost-effective solutions not only here at home but throughout the world," said MG Environmental Equipment's Paul Sentner.

The Environment Department's Environmental Industries and Technologies division works with Nova Scotia companies to help them develop, manufacture and export environmental products and services. Its goal is to build a strong base of world-class companies that offer environmentally sound practices and products for use in Nova Scotia and throughout the world.

Over the past 25 years, Nova Scotia has seen a gradual improvement in the quality of its drinking water because of new municipal treatment facilities.