Dignitaries, including the Mayors of Regina and Moose Jaw, all came together for a sod turning for the renewed Buffalo Water Treatment Plant.

Under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP), the Government of Canada is contributing more than $89.13 million toward the project, and the Government of Saskatchewan is providing more than $74.26 million. Regina and Moose Jaw are funding the remaining $162.2 million.

CEO of the Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Corporation, Ryan Johnson, said that they have been working on this project for many years, and this signified the start of construction on the plant renewal project.

“We are changing how we do treatment,” he stated. “We are expanding the capacity of the plant so we can meet the future growth needs from what the cities will see for population growth.”

Johnson said that residents would be getting better water overall as some of the ageing infrastructures would be replaced.

“We will have year-round treatment for taste and order control, which currently we have eight months a year,” he said. “Our operators will be able to fine-tune the plant, so when they are operating the plant, they will have a few more levers that they can use for treating water.”

“Currently, our processes are very limited in how much they can change. We are dealing with a lot of ageing infrastructure issues, and our well-water is becoming more and more variable with climate change, and this will give us better tools to be able to treat the water,” he continued.

Johnson added that the project is expected to be completed mid-way through 2025.

Once construction is completed, the original buildings built as far back as 1955 will be knocked down.