Opening the taps on regional water co-op concept

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This article was published 08/01/2022 (1302 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A plan to create an East Region Water Co-op could happen with or without Steinbach’s participation according to Donovan Toews of Landmark Planning.

Toews presented an update on the process of creating the new water co-op at Tuesday’s city council meeting and responded to questions from Coun. Michael Zwaagstra about Steinbach’s potential role.

Zwaagstra pointed out that Steinbach already has consistent water supply and treatment plants, and asked Toews why the city should get involved in a regional approach.

The concept currently proposes a water co-op that would reach out as far as the Red River on the west, Seven Sisters Falls on the north along with Prawda and Sprague on the east, although Toews admits that’s very tentative at this stage, and they are simply casting the net wide.

He was hesitant to tell Steinbach why they should join. “It will be for you to figure out if you have the need,” he said.

Toews added being part of a regional water co-op could give municipalities redundancies and help prepare them for the long term.

Zwaagstra also asked how integral the City of Steinbach was to the plan for the regional co-op noting they are the largest centre.

“It could happen without Steinbach,” Toews said. “There is sufficient demand.”

Toews added that as few as three to five municipalities could be enough to create the new water co-op. The area they are considering includes 14 rural municipalities along with urban centres.

Landmark Planning is meeting with all municipal councils in the region, and though Toews said there are no estimated costs, and they aren’t asking anyone to sign on the dotted line just yet, they are looking for expressions of interest.

At this stage there is still plenty of room for changes to the plan.

“This idea is being presented as a possibility,” Toews said.

The basic concept is to create a water co-op like the Pembina Valley Water Co-op, one that would serve a larger region.

“Servicing multiple municipalities with one water source instead of many, would provide a consistent, safe, reliable supply source,” he told council.

Toews offered council a list of potential ground and surface water sources, ranked by both quality, cost, and regulatory challenges.

The top of the list is ground water through sandstone in Tache, Ste Anne and La Broquerie.

While there are no costs to interested municipalities at this point, as field testing begins Toews said they will need commitments and cash from councils.

Getting interested municipalities into one room to create a framework is the next step.