BUFFALO POUND, Sask. — The Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Corporation has earned a national drinking water award for upgrading its plant while continuing to supply more than 300,000 people in Moose Jaw, Regina and surrounding communities.
The corporation won the Drinking Water – Large Project category at the 2026 Water Canada Awards, presented Oct. 22 in Toronto. It was one of four finalists from across the country, according to the corporation.
Ryan Johnson, president and CEO, said the recognition was particularly meaningful for employees who have spent years working through the challenges of upgrading an operating plant.
“Receiving this national recognition is a tremendous honour for our corporation and everyone who has contributed to the Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Plant renewal,” Johnson said in an Oct. 26 news release.
Construction began in 2022, with substantial completion expected in March 2027. The renewal is designed to increase daily treatment capacity from 205 million litres to 250 million litres through upgrades that include ozone treatment, biologically activated carbon filters and improved systems for handling chemicals and treatment waste.
“This is an ambitious, complex project that has required innovation, collaboration and an unwavering commitment to maintaining the delivery of safe, high-quality drinking water throughout construction,” Johnson said.
In an interview with MooseJawToday.com, Johnson identified two features he believes helped the project stand out: its construction delivery model and the decision to renovate the existing plant while keeping it operating.
The project used Progressive Design Build, a delivery model that involved builders early in planning. Johnson described it as the first major Canadian water project delivered using that approach.
“We were also doing a major renovation project on a live plant. We could have built a brand new plant and then decommissioned and demolished the old plant, which would be a more costly option. What we chose was a major renovation while still operating the plant,” he said.
Learning new systems while keeping water flowing
Water Canada’s award announcement compared the undertaking to “changing an engine while driving down the highway.”
For employees, that meant bringing new treatment processes into service alongside parts of the existing system, learning to operate the equipment and eventually transitioning away from the older processes.
Johnson described commissioning — testing and bringing new equipment into operation — as the toughest part of that work. Much of the team’s attention went toward making sure the new systems performed as intended and learning how to operate them under everyday conditions.
Employees brought extensive experience with the old plant, but the new processes required them to develop practical knowledge while maintaining water production. Manuals and classroom instruction provided a foundation, Johnson said, while operating the equipment brought another level of learning and pressure.
“It doesn’t matter how much training you have,” he said. “Once you start using the new system, you learn very quickly.”
No single moment captured the challenge, Johnson noted. Employees worked through a succession of equipment start-ups and transitions throughout construction, and he viewed the award as recognition of the expertise and dedication that carried them through.
The renewed plant is already operating, although some deficiencies and civil works remain.
“We think the remaining work will probably be finished by March next year, but for all intents and purposes, we’re running the new plant now,” Johnson said.
During an Oct. 13 presentation to Moose Jaw’s executive committee, Johnson said a two-year performance validation period would follow substantial completion to confirm the upgraded plant meets contractual requirements through changing seasons and water demands.
The corporation, jointly owned by the cities of Moose Jaw and Regina, forecast in its Oct. 13 update that the renewal would finish approximately 0.8 per cent over budget.
Johnson credited employees with helping bring the renewed plant into operation while maintaining drinking water supplies, saying their contribution was central to the national recognition.
“This award recognizes not only the renewal project, but also the people behind it and the important work they do every day to serve our communities,” he said.
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