Province invests $4.8M to upgrade Markham stormwater system

The City of Markham receives $4.8 million from the Province of Ontario through the Housing – Enabling Water System Fund to upgrade its Enterprise Stormwater Pumping Station, a critical project aimed at preventing flooding and supporting new housing development in Markham Centre.

“It’s the infrastructure we don’t see that sometimes is the most critical,” said Mayor Frank Scarpitti. “This grant is a big help in upgrading the Enterprise Stormwater Pumping Station. We are able to replace aging infrastructure and replace it with equipment that has greater capacity. This will support more new homes and enhance flood protection as the community grows.”

The extensive project will include replacing three failed pumps, upgrading key components to the stormwater system, and extending the forcemain to a new outfall at the Rouge River. These improvements will help prevent flooding at the GO Train underpass and reduce traffic disruptions caused by water buildup during storms in previous years.

The pumping station, located at 500 Enterprise Blvd., can handle up to 35,000 cubic metres of water per day. This pumping station will play a key role in keeping the underpass corridor safe for people travelling through the area.

“By taking initiative and investing in water infrastructure, we are creating new housing opportunities and more local jobs, laying the foundation for a more productive and prosperous community for the many generations ahead of us,” said Billy Pang, MPP for Markham-Unionville.

One important aspect of this project is that it will support over 16,000 housing units in Markham Centre, including 2,552 units already under construction and expected to be completed by 2031. The upgrades will also help enable future developments currently in the planning stage.

Photo: MPP Billy Pang presents a cheque for $4.8M from the province to Mayor Scarpitti for the City of Markham to upgrade its Enterprise Stormwater Pumping Station.