The Alberta government expects to spend $19 million to help bring water to rural Albertans.
The province announced April 21 it would help 10 communities link to existing water pipelines and improve their drinking water.
Gerard Nicolet, manager of the Smoky River Regional Water Commission in Falher, said the news is important for northern Alberta communities.
They plan to build a 25-kilometre pipeline and pumping station to bring water from the Smoky River to the Town of Falher’s water treatment plant.
“This is absolutely re-quired funding,” said Nicolet, who added there’s no way the small farming communities could afford to pay for the link to the Smoky River on their own.
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Now water comes through a series of open canals from Winagami Lake, by McLennan, 30 kilometres away. With recent low water levels, the supply has been unreliable and algae growth has increased in the lake.
The $5.5 million project will bring the water from the Smoky River to the existing water treatment plant, which is the water source for the nearby villages of Girouxville, Jean Cote and Guy, the Municipal District of Smoky River, and about 60 farms in a rural water co-op. There are discussions under way about bringing water to Donnelly.
“We feel this will greatly enhance the quality of water and make it a safer water supply for all users,” he said.
“The Smoky River is a good clean supply.”
While bringing water from the river will be expensive, it will save money on treatment costs.
Barbara Edgecombe-Green, mayor of Coalhurst,outside Lethbridge, said they’re “ecstatic” about the funding for a pipeline from Lethbridge to the town five kilometres away.
“We’re really very pleased,” said Edgecombe-Green.
Ever since a flood of the Oldman River in 1995, it’s been difficult to get a safe drinking supply for the town, especially in the spring. The $2.6 million pipeline from Lethbridge will ensure the community has safe drinking water.
As well as the Coalhurst and Smoky River project, the funding included:
- A proposal to build a water line from Grande Prairie to Clairmont and Sexsmith.
- A water pipeline from Red Deer to Blackfalds, Lacombe and Ponoka.
- A pipeline from Lac La Biche to Plamondon.
Alberta Environment has also allocated another $9 million to improve Alberta’s water monitoring networks.
Alberta has 25 regional water systems, which provide water to 84 Alberta communities.
