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.

The Peace River Basin is part of the largest water basin area in Alberta, spanning nearly one-third of the entire province. There is an annual output of 68.2 billion cubic metres, as well as an average of 2,100 cubic metres per second, with a minimum of 344 cubic metres per second, and a maximum of 9,790 cubic metres per second.

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 underway.
• 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. 

Greenfield Construction commenced work in July 2025, beginning with the construction of an access road down the hill to the raw water transfer station location. Bulk excavation of the project site continued through the month of September, with an access roadway down to the river’s edge for the temporary trestle bridge construction now complete. Excavation of the 28m deep wet well was completed at the end of October 2025. Construction of the trestle bridge began in mid-October 2025, with a completion date set for November 2025. Installation of the temporary cofferdam isolation system for the river intake structure shall proceed following completion of the trestle bridge. Construction completion of the Contract 1 facility remains scheduled for late 2027.  

The original project budget for Phases 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 May 2025, 
is now estimated at $105,864,986.54. 

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. The G5 municipalities are responsible for 10-15% of total project costs.