Okotoks - Plant may become regional facility

Effluent from surrounding communities may come to Okotoks

By John Barlow
Editor

Okotoks’ expanded wastewater treatment plant could be servicing effluent from several communities within the next 10 years.
The provincial government has approved a feasibility study to review regional wastewater alternatives in the foothills region. Okotoks Mayor Bill McAlpine said one of the options in the study could be to expand the Okotoks facility, which will be renovated this year, to service wastewater from Turner Valley, Black Diamond, Longview and perhaps High River.
“It may happen, but we don’t know when,” said McAlpine stressing the word ‘may’.
The results of the feasibility study, approved by Infrastructure Minister Dr. Lyle Oberg, are set to be released in four to six months.
McAlpine said he believes a regional wastewater treatment facility is a worthwhile project.
“The original capital investment will be higher, but it will save a heck of a lot of money down the road,” he said. “It makes sense to build one good one instead of four little ones.”
Should the feasibility study, which was initiated by the Calgary Regional Partnership, indeed shows a regional wastewater treatment facility is the best option, McAlpine said the project could be fast-tracked.
“(The province) is pretty keen on this stuff — you could see (a regional treatment system) in three to five years,” he said.
Earlier this month Okotoks town council approved the expansion of the town’s existing wastewater treatment plant which should be completed in December. With Okotoks’ population reaching 15,000, the existing facility is at capacity. The upgraded and expanded facility, which will be maintained by Epcor Water Services, will have a capacity for 25,000 to 30,000 people. The cost of the project is $11.2 million.
However, Okotoks municipal manager Richard Quail said there will be room for future expansion in the wastewater treatment plant.
“What council has done is ensure the design does not preclude future expansion,” said Quail.
Quail explained the feasibility study encompasses the entire population of the Calgary Regional Partnership from Cochrane to Strathmore and Airdrie to High River (excluding Calgary).
“The study looks at services and solutions as our region grows from one million to two million people,” said Quail. “With that in mind there could be a number of options and that could include the Okotoks plant treating effluent that originated beyond our borders.”
Quail said the long-term approach to planning coincides with the Sustainable Okotoks initiative of living within the means if the Sheep River watershed.
“We have to manage our human settlement patterns in harmony with the natural environment,” he said.