Pincher Creek Regional Group receives big grant towards regional water project

Chris Davis, Pincher Creek Voice

The Municipal District of Pincher Creek No. 9, as the lead municipality, has received a grant that will cover 91.01% of the estimated eligible project costs for the Cowley-Lundbreck Regional Water System, up to $5, 624, 418, under the Alberta Government's Water For Life program   According to a letter received by the MD last month, the final grant amount will be based on the actual eligible costs incurred at the time of the project completion.


According to MD Director of Operations Leo Reedyk, a "piloting procedure" will take place at the site of the present Cowley water plant.  In this process source water will be sampled via a small pilot plant.  The analysis of those samples will then dictate the size and design of the new plant.  The existing building at Cowley will be upgraded or replaced. The plant itself will be all new.  The MD will then seek the necessary easements to pipe water to Lundbreck as well, a process that will most likely involve public consultation.  Reedyk said the plant would be oversized compared to the present need to allow for long term growth.

The projected timeline would see the piloting project and new plant design completed this year, with construction slated for 2013/14 and the plant to be commissioned some time in 2014.

As an essential part of this project the MD has been installing water meters in Lundbreck and Cowley, with the Lundbreck installations almost complete at present. Metered water is one of the criteria required by the Water For Life program.

For more information visit www.waterforlife.alberta.ca