A $75 million, multi-year project in Thunder Bay is now complete.
The city's water pollution control plant has been the focus of major work since 2003 when the federal government announced $25 million in funding for upgrades.
Officials say the improvements will not only benefit local residents but other communities that rely on Lake Superior for the water.
Conservative MP Jay Aspin was on hand to speak about the $25 million federal contribution to the project, which was actually provided back in 2003 by the then Chretien-led government.
Money was also spent on the city's sewer system, which had led to a substantial reduction in basement flooding, said City of Thunder Bay’s manager of engineering, Pat Mauro.
One of the major projects that just wrapped up is a co-generation plant that will produce 17 per cent of the facility’s energy needs.
The addition of ultraviolet disinfection at the plant has also eliminated the addition of chlorine to the treated wastewater.
About 20,000 kilograms of chlorine will no longer be discharged to the environment each year as a result.
