New operating contract awarded for SW Ontario regional drinking water systems

LONDON, ON, Jan. 19, 2012 /CNW/ - The Board of Management for the Lake Huron Primary Water Supply System and the Board of Management for the Elgin Area Primary Water Supply System announced today the results of a year-long public procurement process to select a new operating and maintenance contractor for the two regional water systems.

The Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) has been awarded a five-year contract to operate the water treatment and transmission systems of the two water systems which provide clean drinking water to 14 municipalities located between Lake Huron and Lake Erie. The value of the five-year contract is $35.1 million.

"The value we place on our drinking water deserves the most capable operating partner we can secure at an acceptable cost we can afford," said the Elgin Board Chair Bud Polhill. "We are confident that we have found that partner in OCWA."

Together, the two water systems supply clean water to more than 500,000 people living and working in this region through an efficient network of water treatment plants, pipelines, pumping stations and reservoirs. The systems are owned and operated under the authority of two Boards of Management, each comprised of members appointed by the benefiting municipalities of the two water systems.

"This has been a carefully executed process, fair, equitable and transparent, assuring us a capable operating partner," said Al Edmondson, Chair of the Lake Huron Water Board. "We thank our Evaluation Team for their diligence. We also thank American Water Canada, our operating contractor for the past 10 years, for their responsible delivery of our drinking water services."

Andrew J. Henry, P.Eng. Division Manager, Regional Water Supply T: 519.930.3505 ext.1355  F: 519.474.0451 E: [email protected] , www.watersupply.london.ca