Last week Ontario’s ministry of environment announced its $17-million Showcasing Water Innovation program, meant to to fund leading edge, innovative and cost-effective solutions for managing drinking water, wastewater and stormwater systems in Ontario communities.
The three-year program will focus on a limited number of projects and is part of the province’s water strategy and is part of the Water Opportunities Act and the $30-million announcement or community demonstration programs, municipal water sustainability planning, and education and public awareness of water conservation.
The project intends to fund projects that:
- take an integrated and sustainable approach to solve water management challenges
- use new and innovative approaches and technologies
- produce results that can be easily used by other communities
- create partnerships that highlight the benefits of collaboration.
The program is open to Ontario municipalities, municipal corporations, local services boards, aboriginal communities, public institutions, conservation authorities and non-profit organizations. Small and remote communities are encouraged to apply.
Communities are eligible to receive up to 50 per cent of their project costs to a maximum of $1,000,000. Applications are due by June 24, 2011.
