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Jason Good outside the Shellbrook town office (Image Credit: Submitted/ Jason Good)
Infrastructure projects

Shellbrook confirms plans for new Water Treatment facility

Oct 16, 2026 | 12:23 PM

After several unsuccessful attempts to address their hard water situation, the Town of Shellbrook has announced a definitive plan for a new Water Treatment Facility with construction to start next year.

The estimated project cost is $ 14,447,032, and the Government of Saskatchewan has committed $4,815,195 and $6,268,870 will come from Ottawa.

Newly elected Mayor Jason Good, who will officially sworn in during next week’s council meeting, said the response has been swift.

“I’ve had many comments come my way and people are just over the moon excited that this is a reality because I think a majority of the people thought this wasn’t going to come together in a very, very long time.”

The need for a new Water Treatment Facility has been identified as a priority for the community for many years. Extensive studies have been completed and multiple options having been evaluated.

The Town’s existing water treatment infrastructure is nearing capacity, is unable to reliably meet future demands, and has become a barrier to residential, commercial, and industrial growth. Good, who campaigned on fiscal responsibility, acknowledged there is a near $3 million cost that will fall on the community.

“It’s a large dollar amount so council needs to be on top of the budget and ensure those funds are used appropriately and things don’t get off track,” he said.

The proposed treatment process will utilize biological filtration followed by reverse osmosis membrane filtration, providing a state-of-the-art treatment system capable of producing high-quality drinking water that meets current and future regulatory standards.

The project schedule calls for construction tenders to be advertised in January 2027, with the intent to award if project is within budget and construction to start in Spring/Summer 2027. It is anticipated that it will be a 12-to-18-month construction project.

 Former Mayor Amund Otterson was heavily involved in water treatment discussions.

“For many years concerns about our water quality have impacted residents, businesses, and future development opportunities. Reliable, high-quality water is essential to the quality of life our residents expect and the growth our community deserves. This project demonstrates our commitment to addressing a long-standing issue and investing in Shellbrook’s future,” he said.

Election results

Following Wednesday’s byelection, Good received 215 votes.

The runner-up was Scott Lambie with 67 votes and Dawn McClellan received 59 votes.

While Good ran for council in 2024, this election victory represents his first time on council.

“I am incredibly humbled by the support I was given. I have only lived in Shellbrook for six years so to see that support was a great feeling,” he said.

Good has worked on the Shellbrook Theatre Committee. He has also served two terms on the Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan board of directors. 

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

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