Oakbank and Dugald benefit from new treatment facility

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 11/02/2023 (817 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The province and the RM of Springfield will split the $11.3 million cost of a new water treatment facility that will service Dugald and Oakbank.

The funds were part of a $100 million announcement made by the provincial government on Jan. 27, that will fund water treatment plant expansions in Portage, Brandon, Letellier, and the RM of Springfield, rural water pipelines in the RM of St Francois-Xavier, water and sewer renewals in the Town of Powerview-Pine Falls, and wastewater treatment expansions in Morden, Winkler and the RM of Stanley.

Phil Pawluk, manager of water and waste for the RM of Springfield, said this new plant, situated between Oakbank and Dugald will feed into existing plants in each community which will become more like booster stations.

Both of those plants were constructed in 1996, with Oakbank last upgraded in 2007 and Dugald last upgraded in 2021.

“It made sense to build a new centralized plant to feed both communities,” he said.

Raw water will be piped into the new plant where it will be treated through a blended reverse osmosis system, replacing the current method of using UV treatment and chlorination.

While the plant is a big piece of the puzzle, it’s not the only upgrade included in the overall plan.

Pawluk said they will be drilling new wells for a new water source southeast of Dugald to replace the current wells northwest of Oakbank. The water there is higher in fluoride.

“We’re looking to lower the fluoride level and improve the water quality,” he said.

Once completed, Pawluk said they’ll have enough water to service approximately 7,500 residential equivalent units.

Currently the two plants service less than 2,000 residential equivalent units.

The project has been in the works for some time.

“We were hoping to go to tender this fall (2022) but we’re still in the detail and design process,” he said.

Council will also have to approve additional funding before the plan can go ahead.

“We’re still a bit short so we’re waiting for council to review and decide how they want to come up with the other portion of funding,” he said.

The scope of the larger project includes new raw water wells, new pipelines to connect to the plant, and new distribution pipelines as well as upgrades to the Dugald and Oakbank plants. Pawluk said the entire project is expected to cost $27 million.

RM of Springfield Mayor Patrick Therrien said the funds announced are a great help.

“It’s allowing us to further sustainable development,” he said. “Without that we cannot progress.”

The new plant will allow them to connect planned developments and older homes in Oakbank and Dugald that are not currently connected to municipal water. It will also allow for the placement of fire hydrants in parts of those communities not currently covered.

“It will allow us to expand our water to the new subdivisions that will come in and also service our rec centre,” he said.

Therrien said the expanded water supply will also allow for higher density housing, something that could be more affordable for youth.

“The young people can’t really afford what we have here now,” he said, adding that was something he heard on the campaign trail last fall.

Springfield-Ritchot MLA Ron Schuler said in a press release that the investment will allow homes to be added and fire protection to be increased.

“I am happy to announce continued investment into our local critical infrastructure,” he said.

MLA Eileen Clarke, who recently changed portfolios to Indigenous reconciliation and northern relations was municipal relations minister at the time the announcement was made.

“Our government knows just how important these projects are in rural communities to ensure safe, secure drinking water and environmentally sound wastewater management,” she said.

The provincial announcement was also applauded by the Association of Manitoba Municipalities. President Kam Blight commended the province for the $100 million investment.

“As municipalities help fuel economic growth in Manitoba, investments such as these are key to building stronger communities and fostering economic opportunities,” he said.

The province added that the funding for municipal water and wastewater projects is part of a nearly $850 million support package to help Manitobans make ends meet, relieve pressure on the health-care system and assist as communities and industries recover.

The project is expected to be completed late in the year of 2025.