Midway recieves grant for groundwater protection
By Mona Mattei
Midway is receiving $10,000 from the province to help them complete phase two of a groundwater protection plan. The funding from the infrastructure planning grant program will be matched by $5,000 from the city’s budget for the plan which will be done within a year-and-a-half.
Administrator Jim Madder said the village had started the plan to protect the water supply in preparation for potential droughts, or other problems.
“We haven’t any records of our water reserve or potential impact on the water supply,” said Madder. Madder said the first phase provided information on the four existing wells, developed a well protection tool kit, defined well protection areas, contaminent inventory, examined topography, drainage, aquifer characteristics, and aquifer replenishment sources. “They went over a lot of ground. We’ll be building on this information for the next phase.”
Golder Associates has already started the process of completing this phase of the plan.
Twenty-seven local governments shared more than $250,000 from the province’s program, helping them to plan and study local infrastructure development under the Ministry of Community and Rural Development.
“During UBCM I heard from a number of communities, particularly small and rural communities, about how important these grants are to help advance their projects,” said Bill Bennett, minister of community and rural development. “Whether it is carrying out a drinking water source options study in Sayward, or assisting with the Bulkley-Nechako Regional District’s lake management plan for Clucluz Lake, what we are helping to fund today will ultimately assist communities in delivering efficient, sustainable infrastructure to their residents in the future.”
The infrastructure planning grant program provides grants up to $10,000 to help local governments plan, design and manage infrastructure. The grants support projects that improve infrastructure sustainability such as long-term comprehensive plans and studies needed to assess the economic and environmental feasibility proposed for water, sewer, drainage and transportation infrastructure.
