Municipal Water and Sewer Program
To view PDF files, you must have a copy of the Adobe Acrobat Reader which is available as a free download.
Municipal Water & Sewer Program |
 Cartier Regional Water Treatment Plant at St. Eustache |
The Manitoba Water Services Board (MWSB or the Board) was established in 1972 to assist rural (outside the City of Winnipeg) residents in developing safe and sustainable water and / or sewerage facilities.
Once a request for assistance is received, the Board prioritizes the project and subject to availability of funds and approvals, enters into an agreement with the municipalities. The Board acts as project managers to procure, on behalf of the municipalities, all services including retaining of private engineering consultants for design and the tendering and awarding of construction contracts for the installation of the infrastructure works.
The Board is committed to the application of the "best sustainable option" principle in the development of water supply and wastewater treatment infrastructure. This takes into account engineering feasibility, legal requirements of the community, but does not consider non-essential or cosmetic items.
The Board’s primary objectives are to ensure that public health and/or environmental concerns are alleviated, to ensure the sustainability of rural communities, which will give impetus to economic development activities.
Objectives
The objectives of the Board are to provide technical and financial assistance to Municipalities and Water Co-operatives in the:
- obtaining, development, transmission, distribution and control of municipal water supplies
- collection, treatment and disposal of municipal sewage in a manner consistent with environmental sustainability.
Steps
- The first step for seeking assistance is for the Municipalities to forward a request, by resolution of Council, for a project to be considered.
- MWSB will prioritize (see elsewhere for prioritization criteria) the project.
- In instances where projects are not well defined, the Board may, in conjunction with the Municipalities, conduct an engineering feasibility study to determine the "best sustainable option".
- Once funds have been made available for the project, the Board will execute an agreement (offer) with the Municipalities, whereby the Board will:
- manage the system design and construction
- call proposals for engineering services, including design, environmental assessment and construction supervision
- call tenders, award and administer construction contracts
- provide technical support through a warranty period of one year after the infrastructure has been substantially constructed
- The Municipalities will be required to indicate the method for payment for their share of the Capital works. This may be in the form of an approved borrowing bylaw, cash payment or a line of credit issued by an acceptable financial institution.
- As Project Managers, the Board makes all progress payments in the first instance and invoices Municipalities for the local (non-grant) portion on a monthly basis.
Tank Loading from Reservoir
Prioritization Criteria
Project requests are prioritized on the basis of three criterions:
- First Priority: These are projects where there are documented public health or environmental problems.
- Second Priority: These are projects that have economic benefits to the Province and the Municipality.
- Third Priority: These are projects which are primarily of local improvement in nature.
The Board does not assist in infrastructure development to new subdivisions and/or cottage development.
Effluent Irrigation
Financial Assistance
The Board administers Provincial grants for projects accepted, on a two-tier level of grant system. In simple terms, projects that are considered as first and second priorities will receive 50% Provincial grants. Projects that are considered as third priority will receive 30% Provincial grants. The Board will consider an additional Provincial grant to a maximum of 10% for accepted projects constructed north of the 53rd parallel.
It should be pointed out that the grants are available to the projects once an agreement has been executed and all approvals, including borrowing bylaws and environmental licenses, have been received.
Water Tower at Neepawa
Related Programs
The Manitoba Water Services Board also manages the following programs:
- Farm Water Source Program
- Community Water Source Program
- Rural Water Pipeline Program
Information
Further detailed information on The Manitoba Water Services Board programs may be obtained by contacting:
The Manitoba Water Services Board
P.O. Box 22080
2022 Currie Boulevard
Brandon, Manitoba
R7A 6Y9
Phone: (204) 726-6076
Fax: (204) 726-6290
E-mail: mwsb@gov.mb.ca
