BRAMPTON, ON. (June 26, 2009) – Yesterday, Regional Council approved the renewal of a contract with the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) for the management, operation and maintenance of Peel's water and wastewater systems.

The South Peel Lake-based system consists of water and wastewater treatment facilities and an extensive water transmission and wastewater collection system that provides water and wastewater services to over 1.2 million residents in Peel.

"We have been working with OCWA for the last 10 years and our facilities have been very well managed," says Elaine Moore, Chair of the Environment, Transportation and Planning Services section of general committee. "OCWA brings a lot of value to the partnership due to its expertise and knowledge of Peel's systems, in addition to the benefits of their provincial agency status. This is good news."

"Over the past year, Regional staff and Council has worked diligently to evaluate the options for the future management of the South Peel systems," says Dan Labrecque, Commissioner of Environment, Transportation and Planning Services. "I'm pleased we have come to a mutually beneficial agreement to provide the best value and highest quality water and wastewater services to the citizens of Peel."

The new agreement begins Jan. 1, 2010 for 10 years, with the option of a 5 year extension. Highlights of the contract include:

• enhanced asset management protection to ensure facilities stay in a state of good repair
• increased performance reporting to monitor compliance, maintenance and energy usage
• strategic sharing of risk between the Region and OCWA to ensure value
• seamless management that adds value during planned expansions at the facilities
• additional focus on the exterior of the facilities to increase aesthetics for local community

The Region's two water treatment facilities continuously meet or exceed all regulations set out in the provincial Safe Drinking Water Act. Lakeview Water Treatment Facility is one of the world's largest membrane treatment facilities and Lorne Park is currently being expanded and upgraded.

Peel's Wastewater Treatment Facilities use advanced treatment process to ensure the ongoing protection of the environment. The Clarkson facility won the Ontario Public Works Association Project of the Year Award in 2007. The G. E. Booth (Lakeview) facility was the recipient of the Willis Chipman Award in 2007 from the Consulting Engineers of Ontario.

The Regional Municipality of Peel was incorporated in 1974 on the principle that certain community and infrastructure services are most cost-effectively administered over a larger geographic area. The Region of Peel serves more than one million residents in the Cities of Mississauga and Brampton and the Town of Caledon.