The reeve for the R.M. of Morris believes the current drought situation in the southern Red River Valley is a reminder for communities that now may be the time to start searching for additional sources of water.

Ralph Groening says the region is growing rapidly and along with that growth has come increasing demand for water.

The current dry spell has put a lot of stress on water sources like the Red River, the Winkler Aquifer and Lake Minnewasta in Morden, and Groening feels it may be time to revisit the idea of sourcing water from the Sandilands Aquifer.

"I believe we are going to see some renewed interest in the Sandilands aquifer project. I know that potential source of water is part of discussions the Pembina Valley Water Co-op (PVWC) and the Manitoba Water Services Board is reviewing and considering as an alternative and back-up water source."

In 2005, the Pembina Valley Water Co-op, which represents 14 member municipalities including the R.M. of Morris, filed a proposal for a project to divert at least 50 litres of water per second from the Sandilands area through a pipeline on the east side of the Red River to the Morris water treatment plant, and eventually into the PVWC water distribution network on the west side of the Red River.

The proposal failed to get off the ground after receiving significant pushback from communities in southeastern Manitoba opposed to the idea, but Groening says it is still a very viable option.

"There has been some preliminary work to set up the potential for some meaningful discussion on the Sandilands project. It does have the potential to be somewhat controversial, but working with the communities in the area, I think it's a win-win for everyone. It's an additional source of water, and would be of benefit to all the communities including the communities in the Pembina Valley Water Co-op region."

Greg Archibald, the CEO for the PVWC, admits it would be timely to look at alternate water sources that may be located east, west, north and south of the valley region.

He says climate change appears to be creating more weather extremes and communities need to be able to react to those changes.

"The Manitoba government is actually proposing to develop a water strategy for the whole province, and look at water from the provincial perspective. We're very supportive and encouraged by that, and we hope that such a strategy would bring with it some planning about where we get water as we go forward, possibly some programs that would help us be able to do that."

Archibald agrees the Pembina Valley region is growing rapidly and sustaining that growth will depend on water, which he calls the "economic enabler."

"We need to keep that in mind, and make sure we are always in the background making sure that things are happening, so we have adequate water."