The CEO for the Pembina Valley Water Co-op (PVWC) says the province's funding announcement for waste water and water treatment projects is a great opportunity for the municipally-owned organization.

As part of an $850-million support package unveiled by the Manitoba government to help Manitobans make ends meet, relieve pressures on the health-care system and assist as communities and industries recover from the pandemic, the province announced a $100 million investment into waste water and water treatment facilities in Manitoba. 

One of the included projects is the ongoing expansion to the PVWC's water treatment plant in Letellier. The funds are dedicated to help cover the installation of a membrane water treatment operation on top of the reservoir currently being built inside the plant. 

"We're real pleased that the Manitoba government has been able to offer us a grant of $7.5 million," said PVWC CEO Greg Archibald, adding the money should  become available as soon as the water co-op raises the additional $9.6 million in capital required to complete the $17.1 million project. "That's what we're working on right now. We're currently looking at all of our options," said Archibald.

Those options include going back to the organization's banking institution, perhaps involving part of the industrial sector that would want the added capacity provided by the upgrade, and the member municipalities.

"Or if there's other projects that we're not aware of or other avenues that people have that might be able to contribute if we help them with additional water," explained Archibald. He added, it would also be great to see the federal government come on board with additional support.

According to Archibald, the addition of the membrane plant would allow the facility to churn out more potable water representing a a 33 litres per second upgrade.

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