SASKWATER EXPANDS REGIONAL WATER SYSTEM TO ST. LOUIS

Released on October 4, 2004

SaskWater will provide the Village of St. Louis with quality drinking water this winter by expanding its regional water system in the Wakaw-Humboldt area. SaskWater will invest approximately $1 million to construct 1.3 km of twinned pipeline from its treatment plant to the Wakaw water pipeline connection, a new booster station west of Domremy and another 14.2 km of pipeline connecting to St. Louis. The Village of St. Louis is investing $175,000 toward the project to offer residents the same water rate as other SaskWater customers on this system.

"The St. Louis pipeline expansion is another example of SaskWater solutions delivering safe, high-quality drinking water to Saskatchewan people," Minister Responsible for SaskWater, Peter Prebble said. "This project further demonstrates how SaskWater and Saskatchewan communities are working together to meet the needs of their residents with an affordable long-term solution."

The project is welcomed by St. Louis residents who have been under a precautionary boil water advisory since April 2004. Challenged by aging infrastructure and new water regulations the Village approached SaskWater for a solution. "The capital costs to connect to the SaskWater pipeline were significantly less than rebuilding our current treatment plant to remove the boil water advisory and meet new regulations," Village Clerk Robin Boyer said. "For us, SaskWater was the best option."

Completion of the expansion project is expected to be February 2005. In the interim, SaskWater provided sponsorship of $2,500 to support St. Louis School's bottled water program until the new water supply is available.

St. Louis is located along Highway #2, south of Prince Albert and has a population of 474.

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For More Information, Contact:

Felechia Brodie SaskWater Moose Jaw Phone: (306) 694-3940