The Central Peace Regional Water Project

Providing a reliable source of potable water to residents, businesses, and industry is a top priority for Saddle Hills County and the Central Peace Region. 

The Central Peace Regional Water Project is a joint effort by the G5 group of municipalities, consisting of Birch Hill County, the MD of Spirit River, Saddle Hills County, the Town of Spirit River, and the Village of Rycroft, to provide a reliable source of potable water for the region.

Under the scope of work for the current project, MPE Engineering Ltd. is providing engineering services for the first two phases of overall project, with Saddle Hills County as the managing partner. 

Phase 1 & 2 of the project is currently split into three contracts:

• Contract 1: New Raw Water Intake on the Peace River and a Raw Water Pumping Stations. This part of the project is currently out for tender, with a closing date of April 30, 2025.
• Contract 2: Drill through the Peace River Valley and install a steel pipeline. This was awarded to contractors, Option Excavating, and is now considered complete.
• Contract 3: Raw Water Pipeline to the Town of Spirit River and the Village of Rycroft.

The recently completed 1.8 km of 400 mm steel pipeline was directionally drilled through the Peace River Valley, from the pumping station near the river extending up the valley, at a depth of 90 meters to avoid the slide area. In addition to this, waterlines have been drilled on easements already obtained on the planned route to the future Central Peace Regional Water Treatment Plant and the Town of Spirit River and Village of Rycroft reservoirs.

MPE Engineering was contracted to complete the design of the Central Peace Water Treatment Plant, with 90% funded by an Alberta Water for Life Grant. Saddle Hills County purchased two quarters of land for the project, with the Central Peace Regional Water Treatment Plant currently being designed on one of them. 

The original project budget for Phase 1 & 2 was $40 million, with $16 million provided by the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, $20 million provided by the Alberta Water for Life Grant Program, and $4 million provided by Saddle Hills County. The new project budget, as of October 2023, is now estimated at $103,430,000. 

In June 2024, an additional $22,700,000 was received through the Water for Life Grant Program, giving the project a funding total of $25,222,000, with a 10% municipal contribution. Another application to the program has been submitted for 2025. The G5 municipalities are responsible for 10-15% of total project costs.