With growth-related demand increasing, city council has given the go-ahead to a $480 million plan for water system enhancements up to 2051, by which time Guelph's population is mandated to hit 208,000.
Council unanimously approved the spending plan, presented as separate staff reports on the water and wastewater system and on stormwater management, on Tuesday evening.
Water and wastewater system enhancements are pegged at $180.2 million, while stormwater management is estimated at $300.1 million.
The combined annual spending would be in the range of $17.8 million, though the reports note the precise amount would vary year to year depending on the prioritization of projects.
Among the works are the installation of new watermains, improvements to pumping facilities, replacement of storage elements at the end of their service life, new sewer lines, restoration projects for stream erosion sites and more.
Fifteen new stormwater management ponds are also planned. Though the preferred option in most cases is identified as underground water storage, Margaret Green Park is slated for an above-ground pond.
While much of that work is expected to be paid for through development charges, local water users will be on the hook for whatever isn’t covered, the staff reports indicate.
It’s unknown how much that will be.
