As the Province heads into election season, Winkler City Council is encouraged to see planning continue on a regional Waste Water Treatment project.

Three communities, Winkler, Morden and the RM of Stanley, have joined together to upgrade their waste water capacity.

The plans are currently moving through a vetting process with the Province. From there it will move to the federal government for review.

"We don't anticipate any announcements before the election is over, but the process should continue," Winkler Mayor Martin Harder says, adding he hopes to see shovels in the ground by 2020.

"We believe we've done the best we can to promote it, and we believe they see it as a positive thing."

The total cost of the main facility has been pegged at nearly $47 million. The Provincial and Federal governments are expected to chip in approximately $15.6 million each, leaving the City of Winkler with a $12.2 million bill and the RM of Stanley with $3.4 million.

The new treatment facility would serve Winkler and the R.M of Stanley including the communities of Schanzenfeld and Reinfeld up to a population of nearly 30,000, which is expected to occur by 2038. Currently, Winkler's Waste Water Treatment Facility serves a population of over 12,500 within city limits and the Stanley corridor area. Treatment will include screening, grit removal, biological nutrient removal, odour control and UV disinfection among others.

Morden, meanwhile, is working on a decentralized treatment plant at a total cost of $27 Million.

Morden's Chief Administrative Officer, Faisal Anwar, says the need for the new facility is substantial. "When we have that we'll have increased capacity for new development and better processing for wastewater, which will minimize the odour... something we are getting from our lagoons right now."

The Morden Water Resource Recovery Facility could serve the community into 2045, sized for a population of approximately 24,000.