On Friday the Pembina Valley Water Co-op received notice that the provincial and federal governments both supported an important funding request. CEO Greg Archibald says this will support a vital first step in upgrading the Letellier Water Treatment Plant, and the whole system.

"Obviously because of the growth in Southern Manitoba and our water restrictions, this is really important. It was announced that our project for $9.335 million would be supported with a government grant from Canada at $3.7 million, and a grant from Manitoba for $3.1 million. This is great news."

Archibald says this will allow the Co-op to get a 4 million litre reservoir, a new pipeline, and a new intake so they can actually get more water out of the Red River moving toward the plant. "It does give us a small increase in the water production, and really set us well for the second phase which is installing a membrane plant on top of the reservoir."

Archibald says the reservoir will happen right next to the plant, and the pipeline itself will allow them to take in almost three times as much from the River, as in the past.

This year, during the first 2 weeks of June, PVWC was forced to implement water restrictions. Archibald says, at the time, that was because there was too much usage going on in the system. Aside from the growth in the Altona, Winkler, and Morden areas, he says there has also been a sharp increase in  water usage in the agriculture sector, whether it be for drinking for livestock, or for use for weed control spraying. "We just needed to catch up, and this is our first step. Hopefully we can get going right away."

An additional $3 million is being spent by PVWC in this pre-work phase, to ensure that plans are built into this phase 1, will better prepare for a phase 2 membrane plant addition. In total, all work will cost $12.335 million.

Archibald says there are 3 different parts to the project, with the first being a pre-work phase. He says that involves things like road access changes, temporary relocation of chemical storage, and a new lime preparation facility.

An additional $3 million is being spent by PVWC in this pre-work phase, to ensure that plans are built into this phase 1, will better prepare for a phase 2 membrane plant addition. In total, all work will cost $12.335 million.

All the work must occur without any impact on the current plant water production.

Pembina Valley Water Cooperative has enlisted the Manitoba Water Services Board to help with the project and contract administration of the project . Associated Engineering has been hired to provide engineering design services.

The following is a timeline of the project, as submitted by the Pembina Valley Water Co-op.

- The pre-work phase is going to be tendered by October 2021 and completed by June 2022
- The Reservoir design will be complete and tendered by June 2022, with start-up by December 2023
- The new intake will be designed and tendered by June 2022, with start-up by June 2023
- The new pipeline will be designed and tendered by April 2023, with start-up by September 2023

Archibald says there are 3 different parts to the project, with the first being a pre-work phase. He says that involves things like road access changes, temporary relocation of chemical storage, and a new lime preparation facility.