Yarmouth is planning to upgrade its wastewater treatment plant to accommodate future growth.

Funding is now fully in place for the project which is expected to cost just shy of $2 million following a funding announcement from the province on Friday.

Argyle MLA Colton LeBlanc announced the province would cover half the project costs ($991,325).

“Southwest Nova Scotia is a great place to live and work. We need robust municipal services if we want to build more homes and help businesses grow,”  LeBlanc said “Improving water and wastewater systems will ensure we have the infrastructure needed to grow this beautiful part of our province.”

Staff from the Town of Yarmouth indicated the majority of the funding is for the design of an upgrade that will increase the plant treatment capability to meet future, more strict, regulatory effluent quality requirements. The rest of the grant funding is for construction-related work that will prepare the facility for future upgrades

The construction work has already started with estimated completion in 2025.

The intent is to tender the design consultant RFP this fall with an estimated completion of 2026.

Yarmouth Mayor Pam Mood said the funding comes at a crucial time as the town navigates plans for growth. “A top priority of council in recent years has been to make significant upgrades to our water and wastewater infrastructure to better serve residents now and into the future,” said Mood.

Also at the announcement, LeBlanc announced $750,000 for the Municipality of Argyle to repair and replace parts of a water tower in East Pubnico.

The water tower is the local fire department’s direct water source.

Details on when the projects are set to begin and finish are expected later this year.