Residents in Parrsboro will have access to cleaner and more reliable water supply following a funding commitment from the province and the Municipality of Cumberland.
The two levels of government are partnering on a project that will replace sections of lead water pipe, improving water quality and reducing service calls and other efforts required to flush the system.
The work will also result in better water quality in case of fire for Atlantic Avenue.
Atlantic Avenue, Whitehall Road and Templar Street are the streets impacted by the project that will see the province and the municipality invest more than $820,000.
“Water is one of the most important resources we have and it’s one of the things we continue to deal with to ensure our residents have access to safe and reliable water,” Municipality of Cumberland Mayor Murray Scott said., “With the co-operation from both levels of government, we will be able to replace 601 metres of old lead water mains and bring cleaner water to 31 homes in Parrsboro.”
The mayor said Parrsboro is much like Springhill in that it has an aging underground infrastructure that includes lead pipes. He said the municipality could never afford to replace lead piping on its own and is appreciative of the province for assisting through the Municipal Capital Growth Program – a $102-million investment in projects across Nova Scotia.
“The more lead pipe we can remove from our municipal water system, the better the health of the community, and the less maintenance for our public works crew,” Mayor Scott said.
Cumberland South MLA and Natural Resources and Renewables Minister Tory Rushton said the Municipal Capital Growth Program, announced in February, was designed to respond to the infrastructure needs of municipalities and addresses critical issues such as housing, climate change, accessibility and growth.
“We know that announcements about water systems might not be the ‘sexiest’ projects to announce but make no mistake – folks living in this community will benefit from these upgrades every single day, whether for wastewater or water infrastructure, new sidewalks or accessibility improvements,” Rushton said. “These projects demonstrate a commitment to a better future for our residents and a to being ready for continued growth.”