The Town of Shellbrook is one of three key players in a new partnership. (File photo/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Infrastructure projects

Trio sets sights on new water treatment plant west of Prince Albert

Jan 30, 2021 | 10:52 AM

A new alliance between the Town of Shellbrook, Rural Municipality (RM) of Shellbrook and Prince Albert Rural Water Utility is hoping to turn the dream of a new water treatment plant into a reality.

A recently formed steering committee has already committed $60,000 for a feasibilty study. Shellbrook Mayor Amund Otterson told paNOW there has been some work done already by the rural water utility on this idea west of the city, but added they ran into the same problem as the town – too expensive to take on alone.

“However if we involved a larger region, we are thinking we could possibly manage the cost of it,” Otterson said.

Shellbrook’s issues with highly mineralized water have long been documented, and plans were already in place this year to upgrade the town’s existing water treatment plant. Otterson acknowledged the town had also considered a solo project, but added they’ve had no response to a number of grant applications.

“The cost of us going alone on a water treatment plant and pumping station on the river, even though we are quite close to the river, would be beyond our capability financially,” he said.

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The estimated cost of the project is $45 million. When further pressed on the cost, Otterson said in addition to the three jurisdictions, there may also be a possibility to add more customers from the Lakeland area or surrounding First Nations.

The steering committee met for the first time last Tuesday and plan to meet again next month. Otterson said the engineering firm that was initially engaged by the utility, has now been re-approached to expand the concept of a pipeline corridor, to serve people between Shellbrook and Prince Albert that are not already served by the utility. Otterson also explained they have hired a Saskatoon consulting firm to do a commercial viability study.

“Including comparing what it would cost us if we continued down the path we may have to go on with our own water, compared to this idea,” he said.

Otterson said they’ve also reached out to local MLA’s for support, and thinks the project may also be eligible for grants from COVID recovery money, as well as for its potential environmental benefits. Ken Danger, general manager of Prince Albert Rural Water Utility, also thinks they stand a good chance.

“Government agencies, when it comes to grant funding, always like to see projects where there’s cooperation between a number of municipalities or organizations,” he said.

While the exact location has not been finalized, beyond somewhere between Prince Albert and Shellbrook, Danger noted there are lots of good locations closer to Crutwell.

“And I guess if there’s going to be a water line going past, it doesn’t matter whether we pump a little further towards the east and shorter to the west,” he said.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell