The purpose of this summary is to provide context for the current water infrastructure issues facing the Townsite of Redwood Meadows.

In December of 2018, Clifton Associates filed a report on the water, wastewater and underground infrastructure in the community. The report was informed through a site tour in October 2018 conducted with representatives from the Townsite, and a review of all other relevant documents concerning our water systems.

The report is available to read in full here.

This summary will also discuss a report made by MPE Engineering Ltd. in March 2010, assessing the Townsite's water loss. MPE compiled and analyzed household meter data and flow data from the water treatment plant.

The report is available to read in full here.

Background:

The Townsite’s water supply is from the Elbow River with an onsite Water Treatment Plant (WTP) located within the Townsite. The WTP is 50 years old and consists of an interceptor intake well which draws raw water indirectly from the Elbow River in order to supply the WTP for treatment processing, before storage in the concrete storage reservoir. The WTP infrastructure includes a flocculator, clarifier, filters, and a disinfection system.

The Townsite’s sanitary sewage system consists of sewer main lines, 365 service lines, and Wastewater Lagoons located off-site from the Townsite. The wastewater treatment system consists of a gravity collection system and a lift station with effluent storage in a series of lagoon cells. The wastewater lagoons constructed in 1972 currently consists of two aeration cells, a facultative cell, and a storage cell which discharges into a naturally occurring evaporative pond, which is used for irrigation and eventually drains into Lott Creek and the Elbow River. Aeration systems which were part of the original system have been inoperable since the 1990s.

Summary of the current issues:

• In 2010, an MPE report found that 75% of the water produced by the Townsite's water treatment plant was lost due to infrastructure decay (leaks). This accounted for a loss of about $86,000/year. In 2009, the Townsite diverted about 423,000 m3 from the Elbow River, which exceeded its license with Alberta Environment and Protected Areas by 2.5-3.0 times. Despite efforts to address the issue, this remains a significant concern, and the cost continues to grow.
  
  
• The 2018 Clifton Associates study found "much of the infrastructure is 50 years old and as such the remaining functional life is finite. As a consequence, a plan for replacement of the infrastructure brings value to the community." The report concluded that the current infrastructure would need to be replaced in the future. The report estimated a total replacement to the WTP and the underground infrastructure would cost $46 million, though the Townsite will not have to replace the facilities in the near future. Meaningful refurbishments to the water distribution system, estimated at about $6 million, would significantly reduce water loss.
  
  
• In August, 2022, the First Nations Inuit Health Branch completed a routine public health inspection of the WTP and found three instances where the Townsite was out of compliance with the Alberta Public Health Act. Since then, work has been done to correct these issues:
  
• Flying insect colony noted on the N.E. side of the building
• Insulation from the ceiling was falling down into the plant 
• A tarp had been installed above sedimentation tank, partially protecting from debris falling from ceiling 

Conclusion

We, as a community must continue to act to ensure we can continue to provide clean drinking water and safe waste disposal. Our current systems are under extreme stress and must be maintained in the short term, and replaced in the long term. We will continue to lobby all levels of government for support, and prepare a plan to address significant water system upgrades.