Federal, provincial gov’ts invest in drinking water, wastewater projects

Funding is set to flow from the federal and provincial governments to improve drinking water and wastewater infrastructure in three provincial parks and nine communities in Saskatchewan.

The federal government is investing nearly $12.8 million in the four projects, with the provincial government adding more than $10.8 million. A further $7.7 million is being invested by the funding recipients.

Nearly $29 million of the total is going to the SaskWater Highway 9 Regional Water Supply System project, which is to build a new water treatment plant and a 55.3-kilometre potable pipeline to serve the communities of Preeceville, Sturgis, Stenen, Hyas, Norquay, Pelly, Crystal Lake, Clayton No. 333 and Keys No. 303.

“Initially, the proposed system will serve approximately 2,700 individuals, however it will have the potential to serve even more people, including The Key First Nation and other surrounding rural municipalities,” the governments said in a joint media release.

“The project will also upgrade existing groundwater wells, a wastewater lagoon, potable water storage and distribution pumps, as well as install a non-potable pipeline and establish connection points for delivery for each community.”

In addition to that project: A total investment of $1.135 million will go to improvements in the water treatment system at Moose Mountain Provincial Park, $650,000 will go to upgrading wastewater treatment at Rowan’s Ravine Provincial Park, and $600,000 is being invested in improvements to the potable water supply at Lac La Ronge Provincial Park.