A newly-completed wastewater treatment plant on English River First Nation urban reserve land at Grasswood Junction on Highway 11 south of Saskatoon is expected to be up and running by mid-October.
And in the next few years, it could be expanded to include a potable water treatment plant as well.
The $5 million membrane bioreactor wastewater treatment plant, owned by Des Nedhe Development, the economic development arm of English River First Nation (ERFN), is designed to service not only the ERFN businesses on the 135-acre parcel at Grasswood Junction, but also residential and commercial development in south Corman Park.
The plant has a capacity of 650 cubic meters per day. A total of $27.3 million in financing for the treatment plant, pumping stations, underground pipes, and force main along Grasswood Road was provided by the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
Des Nedhe Group President and Chief Executive Officer Sean Willy said the wastewater treatment plant is “ready to go” and the final section of sewage pipe is currently being installed. In a few weeks, the existing septic tank and septic field on ERFN land at Grasswood Junction, which has serviced the business park for the past two decades, will be decommissioned.
Willy said the transition away from septic wastewater systems will be more environmentally sustainable and provide economic benefits for the ERFN because of agreements with the RM of Corman Park and developers in the area.
“English River purchased this land at Grasswood for economic development,” said Willy. “We are proudly building infrastructure to create revenue that will serve English River now, and for generations to come, setting us on the path to self-determination.”
In April, 2023, the RM of Corman Park and the Des Nedhe Group Utility company signed an agreement, the first of its kind in Canada, that will see the municipality contribute financially to the project by purchasing future capacity of the plant. Developers will then contribute to that capital cost put forward by the RM through separate agreements following approval of their developments by the RM.
On September 19, 2023, a letter of intent was signed between Arbutus Properties and Des Nedhe Development announcing they will jointly build additional capacity to the ERFN-owned wastewater treatment plant, and also construct a potable water treatment plant.
The investment is aimed at providing water and wastewater services for Arbutus Properties’ proposed Solair community, which is currently under development application review by the RM of Corman Park. Construction timelines will be developed as part of the initial planning process for the multi-million dollar facilities.
“This letter of intent eliminates a major hurdle for us in developing Solair,” said Arbutus spokesperson Murray Totland. “We are especially honoured and excited to the working with English River First Nation.”
When complete, Solair will consist of over 1500 homes and approximately 3500 residents living in condos, town homes and single-family homes at a variety of price points, including affordable housing. This development is proposed to be located east of the CPR tracks and immediately north of Highway 16, adjacent to the Rosewood neighbourhood.
Totland said he’s optimistic the RM review and approval process regarding the Solair development will be completed by spring.
“Assuming we’re successful on our Solaria application being approved, we could start right away with the design work and engineering,” said Totland. “The first phase of construction could potentially happen in the short term.
“This partnership with Des Nedhe is critical because Solair will be a large development, and there won’t be sufficient capacity in the existing facility,” added Totland. “They’ll likely be looking at adding additional wastewater treatment capacity to service this new development as it is built in phases over a period of years.
“Right now, Des Nedhe does not have a potable water treatment plant, and so this letter of intent provides a framework for a partnership to build that brand new facility, to provide potable water to Solair, and potentially other developments as well.”
Totland said while the Solair neighbourhood will be in the RM of Corman Park, it will be essentially an urban residential development, right across the street from residences within the City of Saskatoon boundary. He noted it will help meet the need for affordable housing. It will include both single-family and multi-family dwellings, and is designed to have a minimal impact on the environment.
“We’re relying on low-impact development standards,” said Totland. “We’re managing all the storm water runoff completely on site. Solar energy will be a big part of our development, and we’re employing a grid system, which is a more efficient pattern for street layout. It’s a sustainable quality development; a little different, but still built to current urban standards.”