"It's one of the biggest things we'll probably ever decide here," R.M of Stanley Reeve Morris Olafson says. "When we're in the sewer business."

A new three-phase regional Waste Water Treatment Plant currently in development to serve Winkler, Morden and the R.M of Stanley will start a new, expensive chapter in the history of the Pembina Valley.

The funding model for the waste water facility leaves 25 percent of the $70 million cost split three ways between the City of Winkler, City of Morden and R.M of StanleyThe federal government is expected to pick up 50 percent of the estimated $70 million cost with the province paying another 25 percent. That funding model leaves 25 percent of the cost split three ways between the City of Winkler, City of Morden and R.M of Stanley.

Winkler Mayor Martin Harder notes that remaining 25 percent of the construction cost (estimated $17.5 million) would not necessarily be split equally, but rather propionate to usage in the three municipalities.

Not only is its construction a monumental cooperative project, but the ongoing operational costs will also have an impact on municipal budgets going forward.

"Anybody knows a mechanical treatment facility is substantially more money than operating a lagoon," Harder says.

However, he says the alternative is expanding lagoon capacity and using up valuable farm land. A facility would also reduce the amount of treatment needed before the effluent can be released.

"There will need to be a rate review done, and there will certainly be some sewage rates increased once we get to that point," he says.

After operating costs projections are complete, the numbers will be submitted to Manitoba Public Utilities Board for review.

Harder says they hope the current lagoon system can be re-purposed to hold fresh water and find another use such as irrigation or replenishing the aquifer.

"Those are all options that are out there," Harder says.

The regional plant will be built in Winkler with lines eventually tying in Schanzenfeld and Reinfeld. Meanwhile, Morden will have a decentralized facility.

The final engineering and designs are expected to be complete by early summer.

"It's going to change some of the numbers, because sewer is going to be huge dollars," Reeve Morris Olafson says