City of Whitehorse improving water and wastewater services

This is a joint news release with the City of Whitehorse, the Government of Yukon and Government of Canada

The City of Whitehorse is investing over $5.1 million of its portion of the Canada Community-Building Fund, formerly known as the Gas Tax Fund, to purchase equipment to upgrade services and start water and wastewater projects across the city.

This includes reconstruction work on the Alaska Highway to connect Hillcrest to Whitehorse’s water supply network. The new water main will ensure that the growing neighbourhood will have improved access to reliable drinking water. In addition, the Two Mile Hill Booster Station’s pumps have had their motors refurbished and replaced, extending the life of the equipment.

There will also be improvements to the storm sewer drainage system at Fourth Avenue and Baxter Street as well as a new mobile steamer vehicle has been purchased to maintain city sewers during the winter months.

Through the Canada Community-Building Fund, our Government is investing in clean, reliable drinking water as well as effective wastewater treatment across the City of Whitehorse. We are pleased to be contributing to upgrades to utility services and the purchase of new equipment, which will benefit residents for years to come.

Member of Parliament for Yukon Brendan Hanley on behalf of Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities Dominic LeBlanc

As Whitehorse continues to grow, it is important that the City is using these funds to modernize and expand their water and wastewater systems to meet residents’ current and future needs. The Canada Community-Building Fund continues to be a reliable and valuable resource for Yukon First Nations, municipalities and communities across the territory.

Minister of Community Services Richard Mostyn 

On behalf of City Council, we thank our territorial and federal partners for the funding the City of Whitehorse has received through the Canada Community-Building Fund. Upgrading our essential infrastructure and equipment is significant to delivering the important services that our growing city relies on.

City of Whitehorse Mayor Laura Cabott 

Quick facts 
  • As of June 29, 2021, what was once known as the Gas Tax Fund, has been renamed the Canada Community-Building Fund. This name change better reflects the program’s evolution over time and will not alter or modify the objectives or requirements of the program.

  • The Canada Community-Building Fund is a long-term, indexed source of funding for over 3,600 communities across the country. In recent years, it has supported thousands of projects annually.

  • The 2021-22 allotment of the Canada Community-Building Fund for the City of Whitehorse was $8,290,820.30 plus a one-time top-up of $7,928,219.42.

Backgrounder 

The City of Whitehorse is investing $5,177,435 of its allotment of the Canada Community-Building Fund allotment for 18 water and wastewater projects.

Projects:

  • $27,609.83 – Two Mile Booster Motor Replacement. The pump motors at the Two Mile Booster Station were refurbished to extend their life.
  • $848,067.21 – Hillcrest Water Supply. Reconstruction of the Alaska Highway in front of Hillcrest allowed for the construction of a new water main from Roundel Road across the highway. The project has also upgraded and extended existing airport water mains. The new water supply will be needed for growth of Hillcrest and future development along the Alaska Highway.  
  • $33,779.21 – Preliminary planning and assessments for wastewater treatment upgrades to the Livingston Trail Environmental Control Facility. Effluent is being sampled for pharmaceuticals and micro-plastics. A bench-scale test will test the actual lagoon water.
  • $500,000 – City-wide water and sewer study to assess the life-cycle cost for the city’s water and wastewater infrastructure. This will help the City in its budgeting and planning for future upgrades.
  • $264,280.60 – Storm sewer upgrades at Fourth Avenue & Baxter Street will improve the sewer drainage system at that location and allow for easier access for servicing.
  • $92,348.38– The installation of a new sanitary main at Ray Street is nearly complete. It replaced the existing main that had reached the end of its capacity.
  • $300,000 – Groundwater protection planning and implementation. Monitoring wells are being installed at the City’s wells to ensure that the aquifer continues providing drinking water that is safe to drink. 
  • $50,000 – Whistle Bend lift station pump replacement. A new backup pump is being purchased to provide uninterrupted wastewater service in the subdivision.
  • $380,000 – Condition assessment of utility stations and force mains. This non-destructive testing and condition assessment will identify which of these needs to be replaced or improved.
  • $300,000 – Ground monitoring wells. 10 groundwater monitoring wells are being installed at the City’s wells to support the City’s wastewater treatment management. 
  • $300,000 – Well six Pump Replacement. Replacement of the well pump for drinking water that has reached the end of its useful life.
  • $46,434.13 – Emerging Pollutants Wastewater Treatment. The City’s lagoons remove conventional contaminants from wastewater, but not pharmaceuticals. This work will create a baseline and test non-conventional methods for their removal from treated wastewater.
  • $250,000 – Selkirk Pump house Second Barrier Treatment. Develop a pre-design report that will weigh options for a second barrier treatment at the Selkirk Pump house. The report will serve as the base for the subsequent upgrades design of the pump house.
  • $930,000 – Livingstone Lagoon Desludging. Removal of sludge at the Livingstone Lagoon to extend the life of the wastewater infrastructure.
  • $200,000 – Waste Management Facility (WMF) Monitoring Wells Upgrades. The monitoring wells in and around the WMF are upgraded, to ensure optimal performance of the infrastructure.

Equipment

  • $107,581.22 – Water-wastewater utility truck. This purchase is in progress to provide ongoing water and wastewater maintenance.
  • $483,529.03 – Mobile steamer replacement. This new vehicle will help to complete necessary repairs and maintenance of the city’s water and wastewater systems during the winter months.
  • $63,805.80 – Small lift station backup generator. This lift-station generator will provide for uninterrupted wastewater collection during power disruptions.
Media contact 

Renée Francoeur
Cabinet Communications
Government of Yukon
867-334-9194
renee.francoeur@yukon.ca 

Bonnie Venton Ross
Communications Analyst
Department of Community Services, Government of Yukon
867-332-5513
bonnie.ventonross@yukon.ca 

 Jordan Lutz
Coordinator, Strategic Communications
City of Whitehorse
867-689-7405
jordan.lutz@whitehorse.ca  

 

Jean-Sébastien Comeau
Press Secretary and Communications Advisor
Office of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc 
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities
343-574-8116
Jean-Sebastien.Comeau@iga-aig.gc.ca 

News release #: 
22-191