Service Bulletin
Accessibility at SaskWater

Municipal

Clear solutions for healthy communities.

Melfort Regional Upgrades

Between 2019 and 2021, SaskWater made significant upgrades to the Codette Lake Regional Water Supply System, which serves 9,000 users in the City of Melfort, the Melfort Rural Pipeline Association, the Village of Weldon, the Town of Kinistino, the Village of Beatty, the Town of Star City, Star City Farming, and Wapiti Valley Regional Park.

One specific advantage of working with SaskWater as a service provider and partner is the ease of navigating grant applications and regulations with experienced experts, as shown in this project. Approximately two-thirds of the budget for the necessary upgrades to the water supply system came from federal and provincial grants.

“With this approach, the relationship between owner, contractor and engineer is much more harmonious.”

This upgrade was SaskWater’s first significant project using the design build process, which brings an engineer and contractor into the project early in the planning process. This approach provides more cost certainty prior to construction, which is especially helpful when seeking funding from grant programs.

The team is provided with an outcome, performance requirements, and a budget for the project, and then they collaborate on the most effective solution.

With this approach, the relationship between owner, contractor and engineer is much more harmonious. It provide the benefits of many minds working on the same project.

The system upgrades included a new clarifier, additional filters, and backup power. Having multiple clarifiers reduces the workload on each unit and allows them to be taken offline for periodic maintenance and cleaning.

“These upgrades will allow us to treat the water while performing preventative maintenance tasks, or even when the power goes out,” explained Brad Dunlop, SaskWater Account Manager. “This will improve the reliability and safety of the potable water supply and reduce the number of service interruptions on the system.”

The backup power helps to prevent Precautionary Drinking Water Advisories (PDWA) on the system. A PDWA is required if a power outage causes the regional pipeline to depressurize, creating the potential for contamination.

These upgrades will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the water supply infrastructure while supporting future economic development and community growth in the region.