Municipal representatives from our region had a chance to brainstorm about the future needs of the region.

Representatives from the 14 member municipalities that make up the Pembina Valley Water Co-op (PVWC) met last week and agreed to initiate a study that will focus on how best to address the future demand for water in the region.

The study will look at three main areas, which include projected population growth in the Pembina Valley, drought/disaster planning, and government regulations.

"The study will begin in July and over the next six months we'll work through the details of the study, back and forth, between the water co-op and member councils to align with them and come up with some direction," said Greg Archibald, the water Co-op's CEO. "Then we will be in a position to put plans in place, look at financing and also figure out what our water rates would be for the next number of years."

The study follows on the heels of two situations this spring that put a strain on the regional water network. In early April, spring flooding along the Boyne River forced Carman's water treatment plant to shut down due to high turbidity levels. The PVWC was able to provide water to the town from its Stephenfield plant, but only in limited quantities.

The other situation occurred in early June as farmers were spraying their fields. Spraying requires a lot of water and that immediate demand left the Co-op's treatment plant in Letellier struggling to supply local communities with their water needs. In an effort to deal with that situation, the PVWC began supplying the city of Winkler with water from the Morris treatment plant.

Archibald says last week's brainstorming session with local municipal members resulted in a variety of ideas that the utility will consider, ranging from the creation of a reservoir in the RM of Stanley's Winkler-Morden corridor to finding alternate sources of water outside the Pembina Valley.