Press Release: Funding Our Future - Central Peace Regional Water & Ksituan Raw Water Storage Projects

PRESS RELEASE

2024-08-20

Funding Our Future – Central Peace Regional Water & Ksituan Raw Water Storage Projects

Ensuring the future of Saddle Hills County and its residents has been one of Council’s goals for many years. From things like ensuring the long-term viability of our roads and infrastructure to the success of our youth and, most recently, finding new solutions to rural healthcare and internet access, providing reliable long-term solutions to access important resources like water is just another way Saddle Hills County, with the help of our G5 neighbours, is hoping to support the ongoing economic growth and sustainability of the Peace Region community. 

We are pleased to formally announce that the Central Peace Regional Water Project has been awarded an additional $22,700,000 in grant funding from the provincial government, through the Water for Life Grant Program. The program covers up to 90% of costs for eligible projects. This is additional partial funding to help complete Phases 1 and 2 of the project, a collaborative effort between the G5 municipalities of Birch Hills County, the MD of Spirit River, Saddle Hills County, the Town of Spirit River, and the Village of Rycroft. Phases 1 and 2 consist of pumping water from the Peace River to raw water reservoirs in the Town of Spirit River and Village of Rycroft.  

To date, the funds allocated for this project total $65,222,222, with 90% covered by grant funding from the Government of Alberta. These funds will help to complete the River Intake, Pumping Station, and the first portion of one of the raw water pipelines needed to finish the overall project. It is hoped that these portions of the project will be awarded by the end of 2024. The final cost of the project is yet to be determined.  

Alongside this, Saddle Hills County was also awarded $280,000 through the Province of Alberta’s Drought and Flood Protection Program, for the Ksituan Additional Raw Water Storage project. This project entails the construction of a supplemental raw water storage facility to help supply the Water Treatment Plant during times of potential drought or low streamflow.

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ENDS

Media Inquiries:
Monica Randell, Communications Coordinator
mrandell@saddlehills.ab.ca