The government of Alberta will be investing in wastewater treatment improvements throughout the province and the City of Red Deer will be receiving the largest grant of all the projects.

Red Deer will receive 49.2 million dollars for a wastewater upgrade provided by both the government of Alberta and Water for Life.

“This funding will go to expanding our wastewater treatment plant to accommodate our flows from both the north Red Deer regional wastewater system and the Sylvan Lake regional wastewater system,” explained Tim Ainscough, Environmental Services Manager.

According to Ainscough, the upgrade has been in the discussion phase for a long time and has finally been put into action by this additional and substantial funding.

“I think the partnership that we see here today that’s been fostered by the provincial government to see that the communities are here to work together for a common goal for water and wastewater. This treatment plant will look after the wastewater from three various commissions and it couldn’t have been done without the provincial government,” commented Jim Wood, county of Red Deer mayor.

Improved wastewater treatment will help Red Deer and surrounding areas in a variety of ways by providing clean, cost-effective, safe water, and will allow communities to expand their region. Additionally, the upgrades will give the plant about 15 years’ worth of additional capacity for water.

“It’s fundamental to the economy and ensures that our environment is sustained. So, we get a lot of requests for this from municipalities because they are trying to ensure that they can deliver the services to their people that they need,” said Brian Mason, Minister of Transportation.

Upgrading the plant is no small project and will take a couple of years to come into full fruition.

“We need to have the plant up and running for about 2026 so we would look to start design probably in the next year or so, a couple of years design, and then into construction and commission,” added Ainscough.

With safer water at our disposal, Central Albertans can expect growth from a number of municipalities, a more environmentally sustainable water treatment plant, and even economic improvements.

Budget 2018 provides more than $480 million for critical water grant programs.

  • Water for Life provides $75.3 million in 2018-19 and $55.5 million in 2019-20.
  • Alberta Municipal Water/Wastewater Partnership provides $45 million in 2018-19 and $25 million in 2019-20.
  • Nearly $87 million will be distributed to the following projects:
    • $49.2 million for a wastewater plant upgrade for the City of Red Deer
    • $5.5 million for a treated water supply line from the village of Rockyford to Rosebud
    • $3.3 million for a regional line in the Hamlet of Suffield
    • $14.4 million for a regional water line between Wabamun-Seba-Entwistle
    • $11.2 million for a wastewater transmission line from Sandy Beach to Onoway
    • $3 million for a wastewater line between Lloydminster and Blackfoot