Thursday, May 22, 2025
ACCIONA hosted a delegation of senior company executives and public officials for a tour of the Saint John Safe Clean Drinking Water Project —a flagship initiative for sustainable infrastructure in Eastern Canada.
Originally completed in 2019, the $217-million project has transformed the drinking water system for 70,000 residents and hundreds of businesses across Saint John. The state-of-the-art facility includes a water treatment plant with a 75 million-litre daily capacity, 33 million litres of storage, and more than 40 kilometres of upgraded and refurbished pipelines.
The project also included major upgrades to pumping stations and key infrastructure like the Robertson Dam, as well as to fish screens and the air blast cleaning system on Latimore Lake, ensuring public health, economic development, and long-term climate resilience.
Today’s facility tour offered guests a behind-the-scenes look at how raw water is treated and delivered safely to the community. Following the tour, ACCIONA executives met with guests to discuss the company’s broader vision for resilient infrastructure in Canada.
“The Safe Clean Drinking Water Project is a clear example of how public and private partnerships can come together to solve critical infrastructure challenges,” said Carlos Planelles, managing director for Infrastructure of ACCIONA in North America. “We’re proud to have played a role in delivering this project — and today’s visit is about deepening relationships, sharing what we’ve learned, and exploring how ACCIONA can help governments across Canada build sustainable, future-ready infrastructure.”
The project was delivered under a 33-year Public-Private Partnership between the City of Saint John and Port City Water Partners (PCWP), which includes ACCIONA, Brookfield Financial, and North America Construction (1993) Ltd. From groundbreaking in 2016 to commissioning in 2019, the Safe Clean Drinking Water Project has earned multiple accolades, including the Atlantic Canada Water and Wastewater Association’s Project of the Year and a Silver Award for Project Development from the Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships. Port City Water Services (PWCS), who now operates the facility, is a 50/50 joint venture between SIMO and Acciona Agua.
Before the tour, ACCIONA hosted a stakeholder roundtable on sustainable infrastructure in collaboration with Opportunities New Brunswick. This event brought together public officials, industry leaders, and community partners to discuss the future of infrastructure development in New Brunswick and Canada, with a focus on sustainable, community-centered approaches.
Today, ACCIONA remains a committed long-term partner in the ongoing operation and maintenance of the facility through Port City Water Services. The company continues to support the City of Saint John through community initiatives, tree-planting programs, education outreach, and power saving initiatives utilizing the large generator to offset peak demand power days during winter months, bringing a steadfast focus on environmental performance.
