Lac Ste. Anne County is pleased to announce its receipt of joint federal and provincial grant funding totaling $11,800,000 for construction of a wastewater transmission line between lagoon facilities in the County’s southeast quadrant. When complete, this line will connect the Hamlet of Darwell lagoon facility to the Tri-Village Regional Sewer Commission lagoon facility in Alberta Beach. Click Here to view and download the related media release in PDF format.

This project — referred to as the Darwell Lagoon Commission Regional Wastewater Transmission Line - Phase B (Darwell to Tri-Village) — is one of two sub-phases of a more comprehensive regional wastewater transmission system. Under the guidance of the Darwell Lagoon Commission, the County has secured close to $23 million in federal and provincial grant dollars for this system over two years, representing 90% of the cost of this critical wastewater infrastructure project.

"I commend the federal and provincial government for their investments in our region,” shared Lac Ste. Anne County Reeve Joe Blakeman. “This funding will help further reduce our dependence on aging infrastructure. It will also create local jobs, strengthen our economy, and support healthier and more sustainable communities for generations to come.”

In March 0f 2019, Alberta’s Transportation Minister approved $11,272,500 in Water for Life Strategy grant funding for Phase A of this project, which entails construction of a regional wastewater transmission line from the Summer Village of Sandy Beach to the Town of Onoway lagoon facility. This funding covers 90 per cent of the estimated eligible project costs up to $11,272,500 for the Darwell Regional Wastewater Transmission line – Phase A (Sandy Beach/Sunrise Beach to Onoway).

In June of 2020, Alberta’s Minister of Infrastructure approved grant funding for the Phase B wastewater project through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP). The County received the maximum federal funding under ICIP, which is 40% of the total eligible costs up to $4,720,000. The County received additional grant funding under the Water for Life Strategy that covers 50% of eligible project costs to a maximum of $5,900,000. The chart below shows federal and provincial grant funding amounts to date for this project.

Wastewater Infrastructure Background

For years, Lac Ste. Anne County and its municipal neighbours have sought ways to decrease nutrient loading caused by wastewater inefficiencies, and thus improve the water quality of the region’s lakes. A study was conducted to determine the feasibility of a wastewater transmission system to service the northwestern portion of Parkland County; the south of Lac Ste. Anne County; the west of Sturgeon County; and various localities within or adjacent to this area. The outcome of this study was the Regional Wastewater Transmission Line Conceptual Design Report.

This document outlined a long-term plan for a wastewater transmission system to service the area, but also recommended that critical priority be given to Phase I of this system; further divided into two sub-phases: a transmission line from the Summer Village of Sandy Beach to the Town of Onoway lagoon facility, and another line from the Hamlet of Darwell lagoon facility to the Tri-Village Regional Sewer Commission lagoon facility in Alberta Beach.

Both sub-phases of the master wastewater project are slated to begin construction in the Fall of 2021. Future phases hinge on growth; utilization of existing lagoon facilities; and the availability of funding from senior governments. If variables continue at the anticipated pace, the total build-out of the system as provided in the Darwell Lagoon Commission’s conceptual design may be completed over the next 10 to 20 years.

Visit infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/icip-pidc-eng and alberta.ca/water-for-life-strategy.aspx for details on the grant programs.