After the Council meeting of December 5th, the Water Treatment Plant projects will be moving forward. 

Kevin Sutter offered Council Members a summary of the two projects being funded in part by the federal and provincial government for the Water Treatment Plant. Secondary Intake and Pipeline Engineering Services and the Residuals Management Facility are the two in question. 

"The secondary intake is going to be a pipe that draws water from Rafferty Dam. At the moment, Boundary Dam is the source of water for Estevan. However, it's showing some quality issues because the power plant near the lake tends to heat up the water," explained Manager Kevin Sutter. 

The Winnipeg-based company, KGS Group, handled the tendering and design side at a cost of $460,000, which is drawn from the provincial grant. It is estimated to take about a year to complete. 

"For the residual management project, that is for the matter that is taken out when water is treated. Usually, residuals are released back in to the river system. What this project aims to do is to treat that water and remove any solids before it gets returned to the Souris River," added Sutter. 

AECOM is handling the project at the moment and has it designed. On that, the tinder documents are being drawn up and will be available by early 2017. 

"These two project combined are designed to bring better quality water to the City of Estevan. The biggest thing the community will see is softer water with less minerals, causing it to taste better. The other thing is that we will be a better steward of the environment, taking solid matter out before the water is returned to the Souris River," he concluded. 

He is estimating that the residual management facility to be finished by the end of 2017, while the secondary intake pipeline will begin work by 2018.