Richard Froese
South Peace News
A study proposed to find a suitable potable water source for residents in the Triangle, Guy and Sunset House areas has an estimated project cost of just over $47 million.
Big Lakes County council was updated by engineering consultants at council’s regular meeting Nov. 13.
The water study is being led by Egis, formerly McIntosh Perry Consulting Engineers based in Peace River.
Egis design engineer Maurice Wadman updated council on the project study under a regional grant of $200,000 that was awarded March 21, 2023 from the provincial government for Big Lakes, the M.D. of Smoky River and the M.D. of Greenview to conduct a water study.
Residents in the Triangle, Guy and Sunset House areas have been demanding potable water for many years.
The total cost of the project is estimated at $47.2 million, Wadman says.
“It is anticipated that about 215 new customers may be interested in connecting to the water supply or having a watering point nearby.”
That would include 50 residences in Big Lakes, 30 residences in the Smoky River region and 135 residences in Greenview, notes a report from Egis.
Reeve Tyler Airth says grants will be important to proceed on the project.
“It’s going to cost a lot of money,” Airth says.
“It’s time to start looking for grants.”
Wadman says federal grants may be available.
He plans to present the water study in the coming weeks with Smoky River and Greenview directors of public works, and then with councils if requested.
Big Lakes requested Wardman update the study at a council meeting, he says.
The proposed project would include water mains, connection services, booster stations, truck fills, upgrades to raw water intake and Falher water treatment plant and upstream upgrades, the report states.
He says the proposed option in the most feasible.
“The analysis of the options indicated that connecting to both the Town of High Prairie water system and the Smoky River Water Commission (SRWC) would be the most cost-effective way to proceed with the project,” Wadman says in the report.
A connection to the New Water Ltd. system in Northern Sunrise County would provide the most reliable raw water intake, the Peace River, but costs are prohibitive to the distances involved.
The Town of McLennan’s current water treatment plant is not capable of servicing the project area but a report completed by M2 Engineering report suggests a new water treatment plant in McLennan is a possible future consideration for the M.D. of Smoky River.
Another option considered for servicing Sunset House and the Triangle area is a new water treatment plant built in Greenview.
“This would require a reliable raw water source, so further studies would be required to determine the actual feasibility and cost of this option,” Wadman says.
The two most viable options are the SRWC and High Prairie.
Further investigation into those options indicated that additional work would be required for those entities to provide the requested water.
“The Town of High Prairie did not have plans to supply water to the rural municipalities other than Big Lakes County so they removed the town from consideration in the study,” Wadman says.
Therefore, the proposed plan is entirely supplied from the Smoky River Water Commission.
The scope of the terms of reference for the project directs the consultant to evaluate feasible project options based on cost effectiveness, benefits, constraints, opportunity to expand and opportunity to reduce large demands such as fire flow at reservoirs.
The report identifies existing local infrastructure available, necessary upstream upgrades, estimated construction costs and potential funding opportunities.