The City of Warman held a ribbon-cutting and grand opening to officially celebrate the completion of its Sewage Treatment Lagoon Expansion and Improvements project on Friday, October 27.
This $21-million project was made possible with more than $13.2-million in combined federal and provincial funding through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program’s (ICIP) Green Infrastructure Stream.
The Sewage Treatment Lagoon Expansion and Improvements project not only increases the wastewater treatment capacity to accommodate current and future community growth, but also improves the overall effluent discharge quality to continue to meet Environment Canada’s regulations. It also minimizes odour issues residents had previously experienced with easterly winds.
“This is a great day for Warman – our community has grown considerably the past two decades – from town, to now the fastest-growing City in Saskatchewan,” said Warman Mayor Gary Philipchuk. “This contribution received through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program allows the City of Warman to sustainably continue that vibrant growth for years to come. We are grateful to our partners, the Government of Canada and the Government of Saskatchewan, for supporting this initiative.”
Funding for the Sewage Treatment Lagoon Expansion and Improvements project was announced September 4, 2019. The Government of Canada invested $7,240,000, the Government of Saskatchewan invested $6,032,730, with the City of Warman covering the remaining cost of the project.
Martensville-Warman MLA Terry Jenson spoke at the event on behalf of Minister of Government Relations Don McMorris and the provincial government. He said the province is committed to building a better Saskatchewan, with upgrades to infrastructure that supports growth and safety in communities.
Carlton Trail – Eagle Creek Member of Parliament Kelly Block also attended the event.
A statement from the Hon. Sean Fraser, the federal Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, noted the completion of the project represents a “milestone” that provides clean water while protecting the environment and promoting the well-being of Warman for years to come.
The City’s project included three separate contracts with general contractors. The first contract was awarded in late 2020, with work beginning early 2021. The three contracts included the following:
• Contract #1: Sludge removal, earthworks with clay liner repair, and sewage force main adjustments.
• Contract #2: Lagoon aeration system in partial mix cells 1, 2, and 3 and associated works; four Submerged Attached Growth Reactor (SAGR) cells and associated works; a blower building and associated works; and, construction of a new lagoon berm and site grading including connecting pipes and miscellaneous works.
• Contract #3: Construction of a 1200-millimetre diameter pipeline spanning 5.5 kilometres in length. This pipeline runs from the City of Warman to the South Saskatchewan River, crossing Highway 11 in the process. An inlet at the west end and outlet at the east end were also constructed.
The improvements to the lagoon provide the City with capacity to grow to a population of approximately 26,000 with the option to add additional SAGR cells in the future to increase that capacity to a population of 40,000.