Clean Water and Wastewater Fund: Government Grants for Municipalities

ByJeff Reading Time: 3 minutes

The Province of Ontario is making is making a historic investment in public infrastructure projects. Over 12 years, from 2015 to 2027, the province will invest $160 billion into infrastructure aimed at connecting communities and improving the quality of life for all Ontarians.

Ontario will leverage a portion of these infrastructure funds, in addition to $569.5 million from the federal government, to develop the new Clean Water and Wastewater Fund (CWWF) municipal government grant. The program will enable municipalities, local service boards (LSBs) and indigenous communities to share a portion of their projects’ costs with the provincial and federal government, letting more projects become realized more quickly.

The Clean Water and Wastewater Fund (CWWF) provided by Infrastructure Canada and is designed to accelerate short-term infrastructure investments benefitting drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater systems. Municipalities across Ontario may apply for up to 50% of their project’s expenses, including the revitalization of existing infrastructure or the planning/design of future facilities.

The deadline to apply for CWWF is October 31, 2016.

How Much Funding is Your Municipality Eligible to Receive?

All municipalities across Ontario will have received a Letter of Allocation from the provincial government indicating how much funding they have been approved for through CWWF. This amount was determined by an equitable formula aimed at providing a fair dispersion of funds across Ontario communities.

Clean Water and Wastewater Fund applicants may receive up to 50% of their project’s total eligible costs. Municipalities may apply for multiple projects as long as their total funding request is less than/equal to the amount defined in their Letter of Allocation.

Applicants Eligible for the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund

The Clean Water and Wastewater Fund is now accepting applications from Ontario-based:

  • Municipalities;
  • Local Service Boards (LSBs); and
  • Indigenous communities (such as Indian Band Councils) as defined under the Indian Act.

Please Note: Municipalities and LSBs must own the drinking water, wastewater or stormwater infrastructure asset included in their project.

Projects Eligible for the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund (CWWF)

The Clean Water and Wastewater Fund will provide public sector grants for:

  • Improving drinking water, wastewater, or stormwater systems to increase their reliability or meet government regulations/standards; and
  • Rehabilitating and modernizing aging public infrastructure.

Infrastructure projects may take one of two forms, including:

  • Capital Works: Any construction, including the building, repairing, or upgrading of existing infrastructure. All capital works must be completed by March 31, 2018.
  • Non-Capital Works: Feasibility studies, project designs, and pilot projects. This may include system optimizations, asset management improvements, and any planning completed for wastewater treatment infrastructure

How to Apply for the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund

CWWF Public sector funding is available to municipalities and LSBs who complete an application form entailing their proposed projects. Applicants must document project budgets, milestones, objectives, incrementality, and risk as part of the application.

All Clean Water and Wastewater Fund applications must be submitted electronically by October 31, 2016 at 5:00pm.

If you would like to discuss your drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure project’s fit for the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund, please contact Mentor Works. We can also assist your information collection, and ensure your application is submitted by the program’s deadline.

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