Delivery Models

SaskWater is able to offer four delivery models to provide utility services to Saskatchewan municipalities.

Capital Purchase - Own and operate 'stand-alone' facilities

SaskWater's mandate enables the company to purchase and operate municipal waterworks; specifically source water intake systems and treatment plant facilities. SaskWater does not purchase or own municipal distribution systems. Distribution works and the utility relationship with residents are retained by the municipality. SaskWater essentially provides wholesale water delivery service to the community, who then deliver service to its residents.

As the owner of the municipal system, SaskWater is responsible for all present and future capital upgrades and plant operations. SaskWater also assumes responsibility for meeting regulatory requirements and the liability associated with delivering potable water.

Where possible, SaskWater hires existing local operators to continue operating the water treatment plant.

The capital model is attractive to communities who:

• Prefer to allocate capital funds to other municipal projects
• Wish to grow their community and economic base
• Have difficulty retaining certified operators
• Wish to outsource their water supply and treatment operations and regulatory management functions

Regional Systems

SaskWater currently owns and operates two regional potable water systems: Wakaw-Humboldt Regional and Codette Lake Regional. Regional systems consist of a single treatment plant that produces and distributes potable water to surrounding communities through a pipeline network. Water treatment plants for SaskWater's two regional systems are located in Wakaw and Melfort. Together the systems supply potable water to 16 communities and several rural water associations.

Existing stand-alone systems have the potential to become regional operations by expanding services to surrounding communities.

Transmission Systems

In the Saskatoon area, SaskWater purchases potable water (in bulk) from the City of Saskatoon and delivers it to bedroom communities, industrial companies and water associations through an extensive pipeline network.

Operations Model - Certified Operations and Maintenance (COM)

SaskWater provides certified operation and maintenance services to customer-owned systems. SaskWater is able to deliver COM services to communities and associations located in proximity to our existing operating locations, specifically; Saskatoon, Wakaw-Humboldt region, Melfort region, Regina, Elbow, Meota and Gravelbourg. All services are supervised or performed by certified operators.

SaskWater is also able to offer its qualified supervision of community owned facilities to some customers outside of our current service areas. SaskWater considers location, size, and our own ability to deliver a minimum standard of quality service when determining whether it is possible to provide COM services to a new customer.