Breaking ground

Sharon McLeay
Times Contributor

 

Clean water supply is expected to be one of the 21st century’s most challenging issues, and Wheatland County area leaders are hoping that efforts in the Wheatland Regional Corporation and Wheatland Regional Water Pipeline project will protect and supply their residents’ present and future water needs.
Representatives from the villages of Hussar, Rockyford and Standard, Wheatland County representatives and Keith Schenher, grant technologist for Alberta Transportation, turned sod on a balmy Nov. 9 in Standard, as a commemorative start to work on Phase 1 of the project.
“It is a good model for other municipalities looking to form partnerships,” said Schenher. “None of this moves forward without collaboration.”
“Our government is proud to support the Wheatland Regional Water Pipeline, an example of leaders coming together in the common interest of their communities. Access to clean drinking water and water-wastewater treatment systems is essential for all Albertans and their quality of life. We will remain focused on investing in Alberta’s public infrastructure, so that our province continues to serve the needs of Albertans today and for generations to come,” said Brian Mason, Alberta Transportation Minister and Infrastructure Minister.
Many local dignitaries and citizens came out for the event.
“I am proud to be a part of a project that is solving a huge problem for many communities in Wheatland County. Given its legs, I believe the project will go many miles,” said Wheatland County councillor Rex Harwood.
Honourable mention was given Ron Corbiell, who was instrumental in the early stages of planning, back when the concept was just called “the water project.”
Those ideas were a jumping-off point that led to the continued effort and planning by many people, for a project concept that has taken about a decade to come to fruition.
The project has several phases: Phase 1 will start with the development of a raw water reservoir, situated seven kilometres south of Standard. The 25 acres of land holding the reservoir is under a lease contract with the Western Irrigation District. The water supplied will be potable and not used for irrigation purposes. Pipes are already on site to run water to a pump station and then to the Standard Water Treatment Plant. Upgrades to the Standard plant will be completed in the first phase, and Gleichen will be the first village to receive potable water, when the pipeline is operational.
The Gleichen Water Treatment Plant, which has had many problems over the years, will be decommissioned when the new system is online. Rosebud will also be connected to the pipeline. Phase 1 will cost $22,390,000 and be completed by September 2017.
Phase 2, which gained approval in September, will run water to the Village of Rockyford and is expected to begin design and implementation in March of 2018. The second phase is estimated to cost $18,440,000.
About 90 per cent of funding for the projects is supported by a federal grant through the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund and Alberta’s Water for Life program. The rest of the financing is shared through the partnership. The funding has some pretty strict deadlines, but project engineers are confident they can be met.
“We definitely have our marching orders, but we are going to make it happen,” said Theo Owel, engineer for the project.
“It’s an exciting day for us,” said Rockyford Mayor Burke. “We have a great partnership within these municipalities right now, with similar interests. We want to ensure we have safe and sustainable water for our communities and help our rural neighbours along that pipeline.