February 14, 2002, The Region of York and Peel Region sign innovative water supply agreement

NEWMARKET – York Regional Chair Bill Fisch today joined Emil Kolb, Chair of the Region of Peel, and signed an agreement that will see the Region of Peel provide water services to York Region from 2004 until 2031.

"The York-Peel Water Supply Agreement serves as an excellent example of how Regions in the GTA can work co-operatively to solve mutual concerns," says Bill Fisch, York Regional Chair. "These partnerships are absolutely necessary in today's complex world."

"This agreement will help our friends and neighbours in York Region as well as helping to expand the water supply available for use in Peel," says Emil Kolb, Chair, Region of Peel.

Under the terms of the agreement, the Region of Peel will provide an escalating quantity of water that will increase as the capacity of the Region of Peel's water supply and distribution system expands.

York Region had considered three Lake Ontario-based options to supply the additional 380 million litres per day required to meet future demands, including increased supplies from the City of Toronto, and construction of new facilities to supply water through Durham West via the City of Pickering.

York will receive water from Peel to meet its needs at a substantially lower cost than through other options under consideration. Execution of the York-Peel agreement results in a capital cost savings over the next three decades between $87 million and $117 million compared to the Durham West alternative.

"Through this agreement we both win," said Kees Schipper, Transportation and Works Commissioner for York Region. "York will have a secure water supply and Peel will benefit financially, while ensuring the drinking water needs for residents of both Regions are met now and into the future."

The financial benefits for Peel from the water servicing agreement will be an estimated $152.4 million over the life of the agreement.

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Highlights Of Peel and York Water Servicing Agreement

The Inter-Regional Water Service Agreement benefits both Peel and York by sharing infrastructure costs and plant operating costs.

York will receive water from Peel's Lakeview Water Treatment Plant to meet their demand for water from 2004 to 2031.

Execution of the York-Peel agreement results in a capital cost savings for York Region over the next three decades between $87 million and $117 million compared to the Durham West alternative.

Peel Region will realize $152.4 million in financial benefits over the course of the agreement.

The York-Peel agreement saves York time since the Region is tying into existing infrastructure and improvements can be made more readily.

Peel and York will share the cost of expanding components of the drinking water delivery system such as the Lakeview Water Treatment Plant upgrading various feedermains and the proposed Northeast Brampton Feedermain.

The York-Peel agreement builds on a previous wastewater agreement between the two Regions in 1998.

Peel and York staff will review the water servicing agreement every five years following York's connection to Peel's Water System.

Discussion and study on a York strategy for a long-term water supply date back to the early 1990s, and negotiations between York and Peel began in 1999.

Currently, York Region receives 75 per cent of its current water supply through agreements with the City of Toronto, and the remaining municipal supply arrives from groundwater aquifers and Lake Simcoe.

For more information on the Regional Municipality of York, the services we offer and links to our nine area municipalities, please visit our Web site at www.region.york.on.ca