Two municipalities in southwestern Ontario are getting nearly $29 million to expand and rehabilitate rural water infrastructure.

Premier Doug Ford announced the funding for Perth and Wellington counties at a Wednesday morning news conference in the community of Kenilworth, in the Township of Wellington North. 

“We’re making these investments to ensure families, workers and businesses have the world class services and infrastructure that they need to thrive in Perth-Wellington,” Ford said.

“These investments will increase resilience during extreme weather events, protecting more than 5,500 homes in the region, and supporting the construction of hundreds more to keep the dream of home ownership alive for the next generation of families.”

Municipalities receiving MHIP-HSWS funding

According to the province, the funding is part of a $875-million investment in the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program’s Health and Safety Water Stream  (MHIP-HSWS).

A news release from the province says the following municipalities in Perth and Wellington counties are receiving MHIP-HSWS funding: 

• Township of Wellington North — $26,097,500 to expand the Arthur Wastewater Treatment Plant and upgrade the associated forcemain, as well as replace and expand the Drayton Sewage Pumping Station in Mapleton, ensuring long-term service sustainability for 2,330 existing homes.

• The Municipality of West Perth — $2,053,125 for the Herbert Street Sewage Pumping Station, helping to sustain service for some 2,378 homes.

• The Township of Perth East — $675,250 for the Milverton Well Replacement and Reservoir Rehabilitation, supporting 850 homes with improved water security.

Ford was joined at the news conference by the mayors of the municipalities that will benefit from the funding.

Mayor Rhonda Ehgoetz, of the Township of Perth East, said she welcomes the funding.

“We are very grateful for the money that we’re going to use in Milverton,” she said. “We’re going to refurbish one of our wells and then we’ll be able to expand our village.”

Mayor Andy Lennox, of Township of Wellington North, said the money will allow the township to continue to move ahead with new housing and business development, and ensure the community can grow in a responsible and sustainable way.

“Municipalities carry much of the responsibility for community infrastructure, even when the benefits of growth are shared more broadly,” he said, adding, “that’s why partnerships like this really matter, and why we sincerely appreciate the province’s contribution.”

Replacing wastewater pumping station in Mapleton

Mayor Gregg Davidson, of the Township of Mapleton, said the area has seen “limited growth” from the past two decades because of wastewater capacity issues. 

Davidson said the township broke ground on a $42-million infrastructure investment in 2025 to address those issues.

“This funding from the province’s health and safety water stream will go toward replacing the Drayton wastewater pumping station and critical conveyance infrastructure in conjunction with the treatment system upgrades,” he said.

“Our expanded and renewed wastewater system will unlock housing mid 2027.”

Since 2024, Ontario has invested a total of almost $150 million in Perth and Wellington  counties through MHIP and the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF), according to the province.