Prince Rupert has finally got word that the city of 12,000 can begin the arduous task of replacing their entire water and sewer infrastructure after they received more than 77 million dollars form the Federal government’s Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund.

Those funds are on top of 65 million from the province and another 45 million in city borrowing to make up the 200 million dollar project that will see more than 26 km of pipes replaced over the next 3-5 years.

On Thursday Prince Rupert will host an open house to discuss the disruption residents will have to deal with during construction and what the community can expect once the water woes of the past are gone forever. But it won’t be an easy road.

Earlier this year Prince Rupert was also at the for front of another funding announcement after the province earmarked 250 million for the Northwest Resource Benefit Alliance, which could also help Prince Rupert shore up infrastructure needs. I spoke with Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond on the heels of that announcement and what is in store for Prince Rupert in 2024 and what it will take to replace the 100-year-old pipes.