Victoria Harbour Wastewater Treatment Plant Capacity Upgrade

2026 Update: VH WWTP Expansion

On January 16, 2026, Simcoe North MPP Jill Dunlop announced that Tay Township will receive $29,514,145 from the province's Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program's Health and Safety Water Stream (MHIP-HSWS) for the Victoria Harbour Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion Phase II.  Read the full notice at tay.ca/news.

The Township is advancing the redesigned Phase 2 expansion of the Victoria Harbour Wastewater Treatment Plant to restore servicing capacity and support future growth. For more information read the Staff Report: Victoria Harbour Wastewater Treatment Plant Phase 2 Expansion - Update

The Victoria Harbour Wastewater Treatment Plant is currently operating at maximum capacity under our current Environmental Certificate of Approval with the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, and as a result Tay Township is not permitted to allow the building of any new or additional dwelling units in Victoria Harbour, and westward to, but not including, Triple Bay Road until additional capacity is brought online.

Please note this only applies to properties which are connected to or are required to connect to municipal wastewater services, it does not apply to those who are on private septic systems outside of the wastewater collection service area.

Addressing Capacity Challenges and Protecting Victoria Harbour

The Victoria Harbour Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) has been a cornerstone of the community’s infrastructure since it was first built in 1982. Designed with a treatment capacity of 2,364 m³/day, it has reliably supported local residents, businesses, and environmental protection for more than four decades.

Growing Community, Growing Demands

As Victoria Harbour and surrounding areas experienced steady residential and commercial growth, the volume of wastewater entering the plant began to rise. By 2019, daily flows were regularly exceeding the plant’s rated capacity, a clear sign that the facility, built for a smaller community, could no longer keep up with modern demands.

This created significant operational challenges, including:

  • Increased stress on aging infrastructure
  • Reduced ability to accommodate new development
  • Potential risk of environmental impact if upgrades were not pursued

Environmental Protection and Development Controls

Ensuring Victoria Harbour and surrounding ecosystems remain protected, the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation & Parks (MECP) issued a development ban. This precautionary measure prevents additional connections to the WWTP until the facility is upgraded to safely handle increased flows.

Development bans are implemented to:

  • Prevent overloading critical wastewater infrastructure
  • Avoid the discharge of inadequately treated effluent
  • Protect water quality, wildlife, and sensitive shoreline environments
  • Ensure growth proceeds responsibly and sustainably

The MECP’s decision reflects a core principle: community growth must be matched with infrastructure capacity. Upgrading the WWTP is essential not only to lift development restrictions, but to safeguard the long‑term health of Victoria Harbour.

Funding Applications

  • Tay will be receiving $29,514,145 from the province's Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program's Health and Safety Water Stream (MHIP-HSWS) more at tay.ca/news.
  • The Township applied for government funding under the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund (HEWSF) in February 2024. This application was unsuccessful.
  • The Township applied for the second round of funding under the HEWSF II funding in November 2024. This application was unsuccessful. 
  • The Township applied for the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund (CHIF) March 31, 2025. This application was unsuccessful.

Links Related to the Project Status:

For more information regarding the project, please contact:

Shawn Berriault
General Manager, Operational Services
Manager of Engineering Services
705-534-7248 ext. 224
sberriault@tay.ca

Taylor Craig
Engineering Technologist
705-534-7248 ext. 278
tcraig@tay.ca

Jason Craig
Manager of Building Services/Chief Building Official
705-534-7248 ext. 236
jcraig@tay.ca 

Mercia Barron
Building Inspector/Plans Examiner
705-534-7248 ext. 247
mbarron@tay.ca

Tay Township
450 Park Street, PO Box 100
Victoria Harbour
ON L0K 2A0
Phone: 705-534-7248

Shawn Berriault
General Manager, Operational Services
Manager of Engineering Services
705-534-7248 ext. 224
sberriault@tay.ca  

Taylor Craig
Engineering Technologist
705-534-7248 ext. 278
tcraig@tay.ca 

Jason Craig
Manager of Building Services/Chief Building Official
705-534-7248 ext. 236
jcraig@tay.ca 

Mercia Barron
Building Inspector/Plans Examiner
705-534-7248 ext. 247
mbarron@tay.ca 

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