Cooperation of Central Albertan municipalities results in safe, secure water supply

The North Red Deer Regional Water Commission is comprised of the towns of Blackfalds, Lacombe, and Ponoka and the Counties of Lacombe and Ponoka, all located in Central Alberta. In the fall of 2001, the communities jointly examined their water supply options and the potential for a common approach. The three towns and two counties all obtained their water from groundwater aquifers, and with increasing population and economic activity, the ability of the aquifers were being increasingly taxed.

In February 2003, the Steering Committee for the North Red Deer Regional Water Commission engaged Associated Engineering to complete a preliminary design report to define the North Red Deer River Regional water transmission pipeline project and to update estimated project costs for the project. After determining that the best supply option for the region was the Red Deer River, via the City of Red Deer Water Treatment Plant and distribution system, Associated Engineering proceeded with design for this major pipeline. The project included approximately 72 kilometres of pipeline, ranging from 500 millimetres to 750 millimetres in diameter.

Associated Engineering worked with the Steering Committee to address such issues as:

• Inter-basin water transfers
• Water diversion licensing
• Water supply agreements with the City of Red Deer
• Inter-municipal agreements/organizational structure
• Interim financing
• Provincial funding
• Land acquisition – alignment constraints
• Numerous other approvals and over 100 crossing agreements.

Water will be purchased from the City of Red Deer at its north boundary. This water will then flow by gravity northward, to serve the five municipalities. Initially, there will be eight delivery points allocated between the three towns.

The realization of this project was the result of regional cooperation of the five municipalities and the City of Red Deer. With the completion of the North Red Deer Regional Water Transmission Pipeline, the communities are finally seeing the completion of a longterm vision – a secure, safe supply of water from the Red Deer River.