Saskatchewan’s rail network might be shrinking, but another type of line linking rural communities continues to expand.
Earlier this year, SaskWater announced it had completed construction of a $4 million project that carries potable water from Saskatoon to Aberdeen, Sask.
The project, which includes a 35 kilometre underground water line, a booster pump station and a metering building, is the latest addition to a regional distribution system that delivers water to at least a dozen communities in the Saskatoon area.
Other Saskatoon-area communities that receive potable water via SaskWater’s infrastructure include Hague, Osler, Dalmeny, Warman, Martensville, Clavet, Bradwell, Allan and Elstow. Aberdeen residents began drawing water from their new pipeline in April.
Read Also
Farm Credit Canada partners with major Toronto innovation hub
A FCC parntership with MaRS Discovery District aims to solve technology problems in food supply chains.
“The water is flowing now,” said SaskWater spokesperson Karyn Mossing Murray.
“The town wanted to be able to market themselves as having a City of Saskatoon water supply.”
SaskWater’s new pipeline delivers water only as far as Aberdeen, but nearby residents also stand to benefit. Another rural water distribution system is being built by Highway 41 Water Utility, which expects to connect to SaskWater’s pipeline later this year. It will deliver treated water to rural residents near Aberdeen, Alvena and St. Denis.
The organization expects to run 400 kilometres of secondary line in rural areas where existing water supplies are limited.
About 300 rural residents have subscribed to the utility.
The SaskWater pipeline linking Saskatoon and Aberdeen is the latest project aimed at delivering potable water to Saskatchewan communities.
SaskWater also operates regional distribution systems near Melfort, Humboldt and Buffalo Pound, northeast of Moose Jaw.
The Melfort system includes 117 km of water line and delivers potable water to Weldon, Kinston, Beatty, Melfort and Star City.
The Humboldt-Wakaw system includes 211 km of line and serves St. Louis, Hoey, Domremy, Wakaw, Cudworth, Bruno, Humboldt, Muenster, Annaheim and Lake Lenore.
The Buffalo Pound system includes 92 km of line and delivers water to Bethune, Disley, Marquis, Tuxford and Grand Coulee.
With the completion of the Saskatoon-Aberdeen line, SaskWater’s regional network around Saskatoon now includes 269 km of underground waterlines.
