Province Confirms $11M Funding for Regional Waterline

The province has confirmed they will cover the $11 Million shortfall on the regional waterline extending from Cold Lake to Bonnyville.

Now, the contracts for the project can be awarded, and work can begin again on bringing Cold Lake water to Bonnyville.

Since early August, the project has been at a standstill after the upgrading costs for the Cold Lake Water Treatment Plant came in over budget.

That meant there was only funding for three of the four tenders, which made the Cold Lake Water Commission uncomfortable apprehensive to moving forward without 100 per cent confirmed funding.

The total cost is $83 Million which exceeded the federal government’s original tender money of $72 Million.

The waterline will run from the Cold Lake Water Treatment Plant, along the Iron Horse Trail to a transfer station near 4 Wing Cold Lake. Then it runs along Hwy. 28, before moving back onto the trail until it reaches the Bonnyville reservoir and pump house.

Cold Lake First Nations will also receive water from Cold Lake.