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 governmentB次元官网网址檚 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 cityB次元官网网址檚 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.

B次元官网网址淭his is the story of a really big port in a small city,B次元官网网址� said Mayor Herb Pond.

B次元官网网址淭he challenges of making sure the community scales up to support this incredible, growing port infrastructureB次元官网网址� is pretty hard to do if the community doesnB次元官网网址檛 have water.B次元官网网址�

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

B次元官网网址淎 world-class port needs a world-class port city if weB次元官网网址檙e going to meet our potential,B次元官网网址� 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.

B次元官网网址淚 will never forgetB次元官网网址� 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,B次元官网网址� she said.

B次元官网网址淭he winter of 2022 was just tragic on so many grounds. And so this announcement is for them too.B次元官网网址�

Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Taylor Bachrach described Pond as possibly B次元官网网址渢he happiest mayor in B.C.,B次元官网网址� after years of the city lobbying the federal and provincial governments for these significant funds.

Prince RupertB次元官网网址檚 previous council was also acknowledged by Pond for their reconstruction of Prince RupertB次元官网网址檚 water source, the Woodworth dam, which was in desperate shape before a $23 million makeover.

B次元官网网址淭he previous Council replaced the water dam, it was well over 100 years old. ThereB次元官网网址檚 no point in replacing the water pipes, as weB次元官网网址檙e doing, if the dam fails,B次元官网网址� 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.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 no small community, thereB次元官网网址檚 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,B次元官网网址� said federal minister of Tourism Soraya Martinez Ferrada, who was representing Minister of Infrastructure Sean Fraser.

Martinez Ferrada added that Prince RupertB次元官网网址檚 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.

B次元官网网址淟ocal governments face more challenges today because much of their infrastructure is outdated,B次元官网网址� said Kang.

B次元官网网址淚 want to say to local governments that we hear you, weB次元官网网址檙e listening and weB次元官网网址檙e taking action.B次元官网网址� 

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.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e got 77 million reasons why I think I love you,B次元官网网址� the mayor said.

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