(File photo/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Water upgrades

Board green lights next step for $52 million dollar water treatment plant project

May 5, 2021 | 12:00 PM

A proposed water treatment plant on the bank of the North Saskatchewan River, that would potentially serve hundreds of properties in the Shellbrook, Duck Lake and Prince Albert areas, may be one step closer to construction.

The Prince Albert Rural Water Utility (PARWU) board recently passed a resolution to move to the next phase of development. The special steering committee assigned to the project involves representatives from the Town of Shellbrook, Rural Municipality (RM) of Shellbrook and PARWU.

The initial cost of the project, when announced in January, was estimated to be in the area of $45 million however a preliminary study done by a Saskatoon consulting firm found a price tag of $52 million was more realistic. According to a media release Wednesday from the Steering Committee, the next phase will require “sufficient expenditure to refine the design to establish better confidence in the cost estimates.” PAWRU General Manager Ken Danger told paNOW the cost of phase two will be $360,000.

Work involved is expected to include obtaining proposals from engineering consulting firms to do detailed engineering; gathering cost estimates from local contractors for various aspects of the job; and preparing a schedule for all activities required to identify critical path items. The steering committee also plans to engage with consultants to apply for an Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) grant and a Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) loan. Shellbrook Mayor, and Steering Committee Member, Amund Otterson continues to express optimism in the project.

“The Steering Committee has done an excellent job of shepherding this project. If things continue to point in the right direction this project would present many positive benefits for the town and ratepayers of Shellbrook and subscribers to PARWU,” he said in a statement.

Safety first

Safety concerns and tips surrounding discarded needles in P.A.

3h ago

Liquor stores must change hours

Prince Albert limits liquor store hours

6h ago

skin care +

LUXE22 Clinic : Elevating Beauty with Expert Treatments

7h ago

Enlisting an expert’s help

PARWU has also enlisted the services of Stephen Irving to manage the project.

Irving, who previously worked with Enbridge Pipelines, is a professional engineer, and has extensive experience in pipeline and operational facilities in the areas of engineering, construction, and operation.

Irving informed the board that the work of applying for the various environmental and regulatory permits would begin very quickly.

What’s in the name?

PARWU currently purchases water from the City of Prince Albert that serves a network of customers in the RM of Buckland, the RM of Prince Albert, the Muskoday First Nation, and the RM of Duck Lake. With this resolution, they have now invited the RM of Shellbrook and the Town of Shellbrook to join their Board for regional collaboration to enlarge the PARWU’s ability to service more municipalities with fresh, good drinking water.

In the weeks to come, it’s anticipated PARWU will keep the same acronym but change their name to Prince Albert Regional Water Utility and update their mission statement to reflect their expansion plans.

The RM’s of Buckland, Prince Albert, and Shellbrook will be also be sending out letters asking for expressions of interest to residents situated close to the new pipeline right of way.

Irving has indicated that once a final right of way for all pipeline branches has been established, the locations will be published so potential subscribers will know if they are in the vicinity for hook-ups.

–

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell