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Muskoday First Nation Chief Ronald Bear, along with Council, Elders, community members, and representatives from Indigenous Services Canada (ISC), celebrated the grand opening of the community's new water treatment plant. (Submitted photo)
Clean water

New water treatment plant opens on Muskoday First Nation

Aug 15, 2024 | 10:50 AM

Muskoday First Nation no longer has to solely rely on the Prince Albert Rural Water Utility to meet their water needs.

Instead, a new state-of-the-art facility will provide safe and reliable water to all homes and community buildings, including the administration building and band hall, the community health centre, elementary school, Awasis Daycare, post office, gas bar and convenience store. The First Nation is located about 30 kilometres southeast of Prince Albert.

In addition to getting their water supply closer to home, the new plant also allows the community to treat, monitor and manage their own water supply in a self determined way.

“This new water treatment plant breathes life into the promise of safe and reliable drinking water for Muskoday First Nation,” said Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for FedNor. “Following the lead of First Nations, we will support communities’ access to clean drinking water for generations to come.”

A press release from Indigenous Service Canada (ISC) said the plant will feature an efficient system of biofilters and reverse osmosis to treat the water for many years to come. The $8.6 million project supported by ISC included the installation of new wells and groundwater pumping infrastructure.

“This is a great day for Muskoday First Nation to commemorate, as this new water treatment plant facility gives the Nation the ability to enhance the distribution of safe, purified and clean drinking water to the community and beyond. This state-of-the-art water treatment plant ensures the people of Muskoday First Nation have direct access to an abundance of this Sacred Essential Element (Water) to live, thrive and survive for generations to come,” said Muskoday First Nation Chief Ronald Bear.

Muskoday First Nation has a population of just over 1,900 people.

panews@pattisonmedia.com

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