BROCKVILLE, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 02/09/10 -- Canada's Environment Minister, Jim Prentice today announced that a draft of proposed municipal wastewater systems effluent regulations is now available for public consultation. Once in force, these regulations will set standards for the discharge from all wastewater facilities in Canada. Over time, wastewater facilities across the country will have to meet these national standards. It will no longer be permitted to directly release raw sewage into our waterways.

"Today we are taking action to protect our environment for future generations," said Minister Prentice, "It is not acceptable that we continue discharging untreated waste into our water ways."

When finalized the regulations will be a key component in implementing the Canada-wide Strategy for the Management of Municipal Wastewater that was endorsed by the Canadian Council of Minister of the Environment (CCME) in 2009.

"With new municipal wastewater regulations in development, and our ongoing commitments under the Action Plan for Clean Water, the Government of Canada is taking concrete steps to make sure that Canadians continue to enjoy water that is clean, safe and plentiful for generations to come. We are committed to continue working together with provinces, territories and municipalities to make this a reality," said Minister Prentice.

The proposed municipal wastewater regulations will provide national performance standards and give regulatory clarity on standards and rules on reporting for more than 4,000 Canadian wastewater facilities.

The Government of Canada has supported wastewater projects under the Green Infrastructure Fund and Building Canada Fund. Canada's Economic Action Plan accelerated and expanded the existing $33-billion federal investment in infrastructure with almost $12 billion in new infrastructure stimulus funding across Canada over two years.

Canadians can now access the draft of the proposed regulations through Environment Canada's public inquiry centre at 1-800-668-6767 (in Canada only), 819-997-2800 or environinfo@ec.gc.ca.

For more information and to view a backgrounder on this announcement, please visit: www.ec.gc.ca.

(Egalement offert en francais)