County looks to address local water concerns

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Wheatland County is requesting support from the province to protect and address local water demands until long-term infrastructure becomes operational.

Council passed a motion, June 17, during the regular meeting, directing administration to prepare a letter to Rebecca Schulz, current sitting minister of environment and protected areas requesting short-term support. 

This will include measures such as temporary approvals, technical assistance, or division allowances to maintain residential, commercial, and industrial water demands.

“This study is being completed under the province’s provincial drought and flood prevention program grant, and it is aimed to look at the county’s water supply, reliability of that water supply in supplying the residences and businesses that are in the county now, and planned potential development into the county,” said Brad Bullock, general manager of Transportation and Agriculture.

The county has commissioned MPE Engineering to compile a four-part water supply resiliency study. Of these, the first three parts have been received by the county and the fourth is currently under way. 

Bullock explained administration will be able to provide a more fulsome report to council once the final study has been completed.

“Currently what we are finding in what has been identified is that there are some risks associated with the county’s water supply, particularly with the licenses that the county holds. Some of the older licenses that the county holds do not have any conditions on them as far as river levels and things like that,” he said. “Many of the newer ones do, so if the river drops below a certain level, for example, the county is no longer able to withdraw water under those licenses, and so it does present a risk to the county. This study is starting to focus on the likely need that the county will have for additional reservoirs that the county can fill while the river is in good health.”

The budget for the study is funded 70 per cent through the Provincial Drought and Flood Protection Program grant, with the county responsible for the other 30 per cent. The total budget for the needs assessment is $65,000.

High risk areas include Carseland, Speargrass, and the Goldfinch Industrial Area, as they hold constrained water use licenses and are not supported by reservoir back up. 

“This is really good looking forward because you never know … there have been all kinds of floods and things and you need to have an ability to have a stable water supply, which means our current infrastructure where we withdraw water from the river could be used to fill a reservoir somewhere along the line,” said Coun. Scott Klassen. “Working with the Western Irrigation District of course, it is surface water, and you need to give them license to do that whereas we already have an existing withdrawal system in place.” 

The motion which was resolved by council focuses on studying what is needed and does not yet involve motions to construct water services or infrastructure.