Township of Ramara Grateful for Provincial Investment in Water and Wastewater Infrastructure

The Township of Ramara is grateful for the Province of Ontario’s $30 million investment through the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program – Health and Safety Water Stream (MHIP-HSWS) to support critical water and wastewater infrastructure upgrades in our community.

Read the Province’s full news release here: Ontario Investing $700 Million in Critical Water Infrastructure to Protect Communities and Support Housing | Ontario Newsroom

What this funding is for:

This provincial investment supports water and wastewater upgrades in Ramara focused on:

• Protecting public health
• Strengthening climate resilience
• Safeguarding Lake Simcoe
• Modernizing aging, highly regulated infrastructure

Projects funded include upgrades to wastewater infrastructure in Bayshore Village and Lagoon City/Brechin, installation of tertiary filtration and real-time monitoring to prevent sewage spills and reduce phosphorus, replacement of outdated spray irrigation systems, upgrades to the Brechin/Lagoon City Water Treatment Plant to support further growth and development, and the expansion of safe, clean drinking water to underserved homes in South Ramara. 

Why this funding matters for Ramara:

This funding represents the largest single infrastructure grant the Township has ever received.

Provincial funding helps offset a substantial portion of major capital costs that would otherwise need to be fully funded by a small ratepayer base, helping to manage long-term financial pressures on the system and rates.

This funding is a long-term investment in Ramara’s future. By addressing aging infrastructure now, the Township can extend the life of critical assets, reduce the risk of system failures, and avoid significantly higher emergency repair and replacement costs in the future.

What this means for residents:

• This funding does not directly reduce water or wastewater rates.
• It offsets a portion of major capital costs for future projects that would otherwise need to be fully funded by local users.
• While the funding does not directly reduce water or wastewater rates, it will help to manage long-term financial pressures on the system and rates.
• It’s important for residents to understand that grant funding is not intended to be used to subsidize user fees. Instead, grant funding goes directly toward the Township’s capital program and would ultimately help reduce financial pressure over time and avoid sharp increases in rates.