Major Water Upgrades for Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke Area

Feb 04, 2026  •  Last updated 9 hours ago  •  6 minute read

City of Pembroke, Township of Laurentian Valley, Township of Whitewater, Town of Renfrew, and Township of Bonnechere Valley staff and councillors celebrate with Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke MPP Billy Denault following the announcement of $38.6 million in funding for upgrades to water systems in the five municipalities. The announcement was made at the Pembroke Water Treatment Plant on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026. Photo by ANTHONY DIXON /Pembroke Observer and News

The Ontario government is putting more than $38.6 million into improving water and wastewater infrastructure in Pembroke, Laurentian Valley, Whitewater Region, Renfrew and Bonnechere Valley. Local officials say this funding will help update aging systems while supporting both current and future residential development across the area.

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The funding was announced on Tuesday, Feb. 3 at the Pembroke Water Treatment Plant by Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke MPP Billy Denault and is being provided through the province’s Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program’s Health and Safety Water Stream. This program aims to help municipalities maintain and upgrade vital water infrastructure connected to public health, safety and housing development.

During his speech at the announcement event, Denault highlighted how crucial water and wastewater systems are for local communities as they enable growth.

“In my previous life, prior to being an MPP, I was a municipal councillor, as many of you know, and during that time it became clear to me how important any municipality’s water and wastewater infrastructure is and their full suite of services that they provide,” Denault said. “Many of these assets are in need of renewal and they are absolutely critical to the province’s goal of getting more shovels in the ground and more homes built across Ontario.”

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Denault revealed a total investment of $38,680,354 for projects throughout the riding. Pembroke will receive the largest portion at $28,733,256 for the Quarry Road Reservoir Expansion and Trunk Water Main Project. Whitewater Region will get $4,032,212 for improvements to the Cobden Water Treatment Plant; Renfrew will be allocated $890,600 for reconstructing dual media high-rate gravity filters at its water treatment plant; while Bonnechere Valley will obtain $5,033,286 for upgrading municipal services along John Street, Highway 41 and Queen Street.

“These investments are critical to maintaining existing infrastructure; unlocking opportunities for growth; ensuring our communities stay affordable; especially when it comes to something we rely on every single day-clean safe drinking water,” Denault said.

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Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke MPP Billy Denault announces $38.6 million from the province for water system improvements in Pembroke , Laurentian Valley , Whitewater Region , Renfrew , and Bonnechere Valley at the Pembroke Water Treatment Plant on Tuesday , Feb.3 ,2026. Photo by ANTHONY DIXON /Pembroke Observer & News

In Pembroke , the funding supports a multi-part project including expanding the city’s current water storage reservoir , building a new trunk watermain connecting Pembroke to Laurentian Valley , and finalizing designs for a new water tower. This work aims to fix an existing shortfall in water storage while also enabling future residential development within both areas.

Pembroke Mayor Ron Gervais stated that this project represents essential infrastructure rather than just a nice-to-have upgrade.

“Water is critical to all communities , and we are thrilled with this funding announcement – particularly for protecting our drinking water network over coming years – as well as allowing future growth both here in Pembroke as well as Laurentian Valley,” Gervais said.”This project addresses existing shortages ; aligns with provincial guidelines ; protects current homes ; removes barriers on approved housing units ; allows residential development.”

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City Of Pembroke Mayor Ron Gervais thanks The Ontario Government For Investing $28.7 Million In Funding For Upgrades To Pembrokes’ Water System On Tuesday February 3rd At pemboke Ont. Photo By Anthony Dixon/Pemboke Observer And News

GERVAIS SAID THAT THE PROJECT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN MUNICIPALITIES AND THE PROVINCE.

“
GERVAIS SAID THAT IT WOULD BE A BURDEN ON THE CITY OF PEMBROKE RATEPAYERS IF WE HAD TO GO THIS ALONE ; AND IN FACT WE PROBABLY WOULDN’T BE ABLE TO DO IT,” HE SAID.”WE WOULDN’T BE ABLE TO GO IT ALONE IF IT WAS NOT FOR PARTNERSHIPS WITH BOTH LAURENTIAN VALLEY AND THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO.”

According To The City Of PEMBROKE ; THE TOTAL COST OF THE PROJECT IS APPROXIMATELY$39 MILLION. THE PROVINCE’S GRANT WILL COVER ABOUT73%OF COSTS WHILE THE REMAINDER WILL BE SHARED BETWEEN PEMBROKE AND LAURENTIAN VALLEY THROUGH THEIR EXISTING WATER SERVICES AGREEMENT. CONSTRUCTION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN SPRING OF26 WITH COMPLETION REQUIRED BY MARCH31(29).

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Council’s approval passed unanimously, making it possible!

LAURENTIAN VALLEY MAYOR STEVE BENNETT SAID FUNDING PROVIDES CERTAINTY NEEDED FOR MUNICIPALITIES MOVING FORWARD WITH GROWTH RELATED INFRASTRUCTURE.
WHITEWATER REGION’S FUNDING WILL COMPLETE HEALTH AND SAFETY UPGRADES AT COBDEN WATER TREATMENT PLANT. MAYOR NEIL NICHOLSON SAID INVESTMENT HELPS TOWNSHIP ADDRESS LONG-STANDING INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS WHILE LIMITING FINANCIAL IMPACT ON RESIDENTS.
“This Fund Helps Us Address Long-standing Health And Safety Challenges While Avoiding Significant Rate Increases That Would Have Been Necessary Otherwise.”
NICHOLSON ADDED THAT HIS TOWNSHIP’S INITIAL FINANCIAL ANALYSIS SHOWS THEY CAN FUND THEIR SHARE USING USER FEE RESERVES, AVOIDING DEBENTURE FINANCING OR ASSOCIATED INTEREST COSTS. “The Point Is Our Rates WONT Be Going Down But This Investment Will Help Stabilize Long-term Costs And Protect Residents From Extra Financial Pressure.”
THIS HAS NOT LOADED YET, BUT YOUR ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW. WHITEWATER REGION IS GETTING FUNDS FROM ONTARIO GOVERNMENT FOR UPGRADES
IN RENFREW FUNDINGSUPPORT RECONSTRUCTION FILTRATION INFRASTRUCTURES AT TOWN WATER PLANT. MAYORTOM SIDNEY STRESSED HOW IMPORTANT PROVINCIAL SUPPORT ISFOR SMALLER COMMUNITIES WITH LIMITED UTILITY USERS.”THIS FUNDINGSIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVES HEALTH AND SAFETY OF RENFREWS DRINKING SYSTEM.” MAYORTOM SIDNEY EMPHASIZED RURAL COMMUNITY LIKE RENFREW SERVE BIGGER POPULATION THAN PERMANENT RESIDENTS WHICH PUT STRAIN ON INFRASTRUCTURES. WITHOUT THISINVESTMENT FORFILTER SYSTEM WE CANNOT AFFORD TO MAKE NECESSARYUPGRADESTO MEET DEMAND. BONNECHERE VALLEY’S FUND RECEIVED A BOOST FOR A$68 MILLION REPLACEMENTS UNDERGROUND SERVICEAGREE HENCE EGANVILLE VILLAGE COULD KEEPUPWITH CHANGESCURRENTLY HAPPENNING AS MORE PEOPLE MOVE OUTFROMLARGECITIES MORE THAN100NEW HOMES ARE IN DIFFERENT DEVELOPMENT STAGES MAYORS JENNIFER MURPHY COMMENTED :“THIS MONEY ENABLEUS TO REPLACE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURES OLDERTHAN50YEARS ACCORDANCE ENHANCED RELIABILITY PUBLIC HEALTH. T”” THIS HAS NOT LOADED YET, BUT YOUR ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW. DENALUT POINTED OUT ALL THESE PROJECTSWILL COME UNDER ONE LARGER INVESTMENT INITIATIVETO ENCOURAGE HOUSIGNRELATEDINFRASTRUCUTE THROGHOUTTHE PROVINCE. HE NOTED HOW THIS GRANT REFLECTSPARTNERSHIPBETWEEN LOCAL GOVERNMENTSANDPROVINCIALAUTHORITES WORKTOGETHERFORESIDENT BENEFITS. SHARE THIS ARTICLE INYOUR SOCIAL NETWORK

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