New industrial plants in St. Thomas will need a $400-million upgrade to the water system serving the area, and property owners in London and Elgin will be on the hook if the companies and the province don’t step up.

Manufacturing plants opening in a St. Thomas industrial park named Yarmouth Yards will increase water demand by 36 million litres a day, as new businesses including PowerCo , Vianode and other industries will need more water than originally forecast, said Andrew Henry, director of regional water for the Lake Huron and Elgin area primary water supply systems.

The water treatment plant serving south London and much of Elgin and St. Thomas will require a massive upgrade to feed that demand, he said.

If the provincial government does not help, water users, including homeo

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