The first phases of water main replacement have yet to begin in Treherne, but the municipality is already thinking about the future. Municipality of Norfolk Treherne Reeve Craig Spencer says the five phase water main replacement had already received funding for the first two phases, and they're already working to acquire funds for future work.

Reeve Craig Spencer

"We made applications to the federal and provincial governments for two phases, and were supported with an initial allotment to help us with the first two phases we're looking at doing, possibly starting the summer of 2016 if the engineering goes along at the speed we need to. It totals about $1.6 million."

He says the price of infrastructure is constantly rising, and funding for the work has become a hot political factor. Spencer says those factors encouraged them to take a proactive approach, when it comes to phases three and four.

"With infrastructure being more than a political football at this time, we want to be on the forefront of applying to the federal government to continue this. We need these water mains worked on. Someone put them in the ground 75 years ago and we've used them, not it's this generations turn. We're going to make applications again for the next two phases, which will total just short of $2 million."

He says the age of the lines has led to more water main breaks in the town, making the replacement necessary. He notes they still need to go to tender with the engineering contract for the first two phases, and says that process will determine when they're able to begin the actual work.