Residents of Ignace are celebrating the official completion of the township's water treatment plant.
The ceremonies were being heralded as the end of several long and difficult years of delays and cost over-runs that also saw residents forced to live under a boil water advisory for a two year period.
Ignace Mayor Lionel Cloutier was joined by about 60 residents along with Minister of Northern Development Michael Gravelle and Kenora MP Greg Rickford to announce the official opening of the new water treatment plant. The projects has had a challenging history. Originally scheduled to be completed in March of 2008 delays and cost over-runs saw the budget go from $15 million to $17.1 million. Despite that fact, all three politicians used the occasion to say the plant is a great example of how all three levels government worked together to ensure a safe supply of water for residents.
Last July the plant received the all clear from the Northwestern Health Unit meaning 665 households were able to enjoy safe drinking water for the first time in almost two years. Town officials say problems with construction of a pipeline from Lake Kekwanzik and design changes to meet new provincial drinking water regulations were primary causes for the delay
Rickford said by working together the federal and provincial government were able to obtain a one year extension for the project and help cover additional costs which could not have been born by Ignace.
