The town of Inuvik will see more than $10-million worth of upgrades to its water and wastewater system, to support an increased military presence in the community.

The federal government on Monday announced more than $5.4 million in funding from the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) over the next three years, for the new infrastructure. The Town of Inuvik will contribute an equal amount.

The money will pay for upgrades to the town’s sewage lagoon system, as well as the construction of a new water tower and bulk water station. A news release from the federal government says the work “will also support the Department of National Defence’s continued presence in Inuvik.”

The federal government has named Inuvik as one of several communities to serve as operational support hubs for the military in the North.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Mark Carney promised billions to be spent on forward operating locations in the North, as well as civilian infrastructure in several communities including runway improvements and expansions, hangar and road construction.

In a statement, Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Rebecca Alty says the upgrades to Inuvik’s water and wastewater infrastructure is about “ensuring the Inuvik airport can grow to serve Canada’s security needs, as well as the needs of everyday people.”

Inuvik Mayor Peter Clarkson said the town is moving into “significant Department of National Defence development,” and the infrastructure investments “will ensure the town has the capacity to provide essential municipal services for any future development of Arctic security and sovereignty.”

Earlier this month, city councillors in Yellowknife — another military support hub — voted to sign an agreement with the federal government that’s aimed at bringing piped water and sewer service to that city’s airport.

The agreement would allow the Department of National Defence to pay for all of the engineering scoping work needed to get the Yellowknife airport off of trucked water service.