Sustainable Water Project

This page will teach you about your water supply and what we are doing to protect it. We appreciate the work Lakers do to learn about our water system, and to ask questions. Let's talk!

This page includes:

Your Water brochure: To understand how we all work together to protect our water, you must first understand little bit about our local geology and the water cycle. The brochure is about our water supply and what we are doing to protect it
Water planning: Our Water Master Plan found maintenance and upgrades needed for water sustainability
Water projects: How we are completing the work in our Water Master Plan. These projects provide water today and plan for the future. The projects also protect our aquifer and prevent it from becoming damaged
Budget: Estimated cost of the Sustainable Water Project. Grants we applied for to reduce the cost
Water conservation and restriction: Conservation and restrictions are not the same thing, but both work to protect our water supply.
- Conservation vs restriction: Page 6 - 19 of the Your Water brochure explains the difference between conservation and restriction
- How the Town conserves water: The Water Conservation and Demand Management Measurements Policy explains how the Town protects the water supply. The policy outlines conservation (stage 1) and what happens during water shortages that result in restrictions (stages 2 and 3)
- History of conservation: Voluntary water conservation started around 1995, and you can see it mentioned on page 4 of the April 1996 council minutes record. In 1996, the town installed water meters in almost all structures using municipal water (mention on page 3). The
  results were an immediate and sharp reduction in water usage (page 33). In 1999, the Town included mandatory water conservation in the Water and Sewer Bylaw (page 61, article 68)

Ask water questions

We welcome your questions about anything in the brochure, about water projects, or about water restrictions/conservation
Visit the Ask & Answered section to post your question

Why Conserve Water?

Eliminating wasteful water use can save you money!

This page will teach you about your water supply and what we are doing to protect it. We appreciate the work Lakers do to learn about our water system, and to ask questions. Let's talk!

This page includes:

Your Water brochure: To understand how we all work together to protect our water, you must first understand little bit about our local geology and the water cycle. The brochure is about our water supply and what we are doing to protect it
Water planning: Our Water Master Plan found maintenance and upgrades needed for water sustainability
Water projects: How we are completing the work in our Water Master Plan. These projects provide water today and plan for the future. The projects also protect our aquifer and prevent it from becoming damaged
Budget: Estimated cost of the Sustainable Water Project. Grants we applied for to reduce the cost
Water conservation and restriction: Conservation and restrictions are not the same thing, but both work to protect our water supply.
- Conservation vs restriction: Page 6 - 19 of the Your Water brochure explains the difference between conservation and restriction
- How the Town conserves water: The Water Conservation and Demand Management Measurements Policy explains how the Town protects the water supply. The policy outlines conservation (stage 1) and what happens during water shortages that result in restrictions (stages 2 and 3)
- History of conservation: Voluntary water conservation started around 1995, and you can see it mentioned on page 4 of the April 1996 council minutes record. In 1996, the town installed water meters in almost all structures using municipal water (mention on page 3). The
  results were an immediate and sharp reduction in water usage (page 33). In 1999, the Town included mandatory water conservation in the Water and Sewer Bylaw (page 61, article 68)

Ask water questions

We welcome your questions about anything in the brochure, about water projects, or about water restrictions/conservation
Visit the Ask & Answered section to post your question

Why Conserve Water?

Eliminating wasteful water use can save you money!

Water Master Plan

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Water is life for today and the future. We are carefully planning so that we have enough water for today and for future growth. Our 2020 Water Master Plan identified important needs and how we can save money. Some of the most important needs are:
- Aquifer protection: Methods to prevent aquifer damage caused by drawing too much water too quickly. (Learn all about where our water comes from, and how we plan on keeping our water safe)
- Fire Flow Conditions: During a fire, how much water pressure we need to keep supplying Lakers and fight the fire at the same time
- Peak Hour Demand Conditions: Total water used during the busiest hour of the year
- Residential Per Capita Consumption Rates: How much water Lakers use
- Maintenance: Reviews the condition of our water infrastructure, like valves, pipes and pumps. The plan outlines future repairs so we have less unplanned emergency repairs. Planning repairs costs less than emergency repairs
Learn more
- Learn about the 2025 projects that will help us meet these needs!
- We are updating the Water Master Plan in 2026. Check out the project and its budget
Water Projects

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To meet the needs in our Water Master Plan, Council approved these water projects. We'll post more information about each project as it becomes available.

Capital Projects

Northeast Gateway Water Supply main (2020 - 2025)
- This update to our water supply main will transport water from the north where supply is ample, to the south, where it is less plentiful
- Status: Engineering and design
South Reservoir upgrades (2020 - 2025)
Replace aging equipment before a costly emergency repair is needed
New equipment to improve measurement

Helps pinpoint areas of high/low use

Identify water main breaks faster to save money (less water lost)
Status: Engineering and design

Southeast watermain, Ryder Ridge Blvd to Crestview Blvd (2025)
Ensure adequate water supply and pressure to existing and new subdivisions south of Memorial Trail and east of Centennial Street
- Status: Planning
Watermain looping, Ryder Ridge Blvd to Crestview Blvd (2026)
Ensure adequate water supply and pressure to existing and new subdivisions south of Memorial Trail and east of Centennial Street

Status: Planning

Southwest Watermain, Pogadl Park to Broadway Rise (2026)

Ensure adequate water supply and pressure to existing and new subdivisions south of Memorial Trail and west of Centennial Street

Status: Engineering and design

Environmental Master Plan (2025)

A plan to preserve the local air, water, soil. Also planning for extreme weather like flooding, extreme wind, and drought events

Review the work completed and determine the next steps to ensure a sustainable water supply into the future

Status: Planning

Water Master Plan & Studies (2026)

Update the 2020 Water Master Plan. Builds on information learned in the Environmental Master

Review the work completed and determine the next steps to ensure a sustainable water supply into the future
- Status: Planning
Watermain replacement (2010 - Ongoing)
- This project is funded every year
- Save money by replacing aging water system parts before they break. This costs less that emergency repairs
- Curious about how old the pipes are? View the age of our water system pipes by clicking on the line, and checking the pop up window on the right side of the screen
- Status: Engineering and design
Raw water supply wells and supply mains (2024 - 2029)
- Exploration of new source wells in Sylvan Lake, Red Deer County, and Lacombe County
- Load balancing: Spread load across more wells to protect our aquifer from overdraft and subsidence (page 14, page 24)
- Wells project page
- Status: Planning
Testing Well 13 to expand existing water sources
- We have one well that is licensed that is not currently in use
- We are performing draw-down testing to see how much water the well can produce while still protecting the aquifer
- Status: Underway
Operating Projects

North Reservoir Dock Safety Improvements (2025)
- Improve the loading dock to increase safety of chlorine handling
North Reservoir Sanitation Improvements (2025)
- Improve hygiene measures like boot washes
Pressure Reducing Valves Rehabilitation (2025)
- Pressure-reducing valves help reduce water pressure to protect municipal and residential water system equipment and appliances
- The valves help to make sure we have enough water pressure for fire fighting in all areas of town
- The valves also help to conserve water, improve efficiency, and prevent leaks and bursts
- Status: After the valves are completed, adjustments to balance the water system begin and should be completed by. Estimated completion date April 8, 2025
Learn more
- Learn more about planning on pages 2 - 25 of the Your Water Brochure
- Projects run in phases, starting with planning, then engineering and design, and finally construction.
Budget

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Each water project has its own budget and phases. Some are completed over multiple years.
Northeast Gateway Water Supply Main
- Budget 2019: $200,000, Engineering and design
- Budget 2025: $7,000,000, Construction
- Funding Source: Public debt borrowing (Capital funding tax dollars)
- Progress: Construction. Starting fall 2025
South Reservoir Upgrades
- Budget 2023: $1,340,000, Engineering and design
- Budget 2025: $3,200,000, Construction
- Funding Source: Public debt borrowing (Capital funding tax dollars)
- Progress: Construction. Starting spring 2025
SE Watermain, Ryders Ridge Blvd to Crestview Blvd
- Budget 2025: $150,000
- Funding Source: Capital funding (tax dollars)
- Progress: Engineering and design 2025
Raw water supply wells and supply mains
- Budget 2025: $500,000, engineering and design
- Budget 2026: $1,500,000, construction
- Funding Source: Capital funding (tax dollars)
- Progress: Underway
Watermain replacement program
- Budget 2025: $300,000
- Budget 2026: $300,000
- Budget 2027: $300,000
- Funding Source: Capital funding (tax dollars)
- Progress: Construction. Ongoing
SW Watermain Looping, Pogadl Park to Broadway Rise
- Budget 2025: $150,000, engineering and design
- Budget 2026: $2,200,000, construction
- Funding Source: Capital funding (tax dollars)
- Progress: Construction 2026
SE Watermain Looping, Ryder Ridge Blvd to Crestview Blvd: Phase 1
- Budget 2026: $1,000,000
- Funding Source: Capital funding (tax dollars)
- Progress: Construction 2026
Water Master Plan & Studies
- Budget 2026: $250,000
- Funding Source: Capital funding (tax dollars)
- Progress: Study 2026
North Reservoir Dock Safety Improvements
- Budget 2025: $10,000
- Funding Source: Operating budget (tax dollars)
- Progress: Underway 2025
North Reservoir Sanitation Improvements
- Budget 2025: $5,000
- Funding Source: Operating budget (tax dollars)
- Progress: Underway 2025
Pressure Reducing Valves Rehabilitation
- Budget 2025: $150,000
- Funding Source: Operating budget (tax dollars)
- Progress: Underway 2025
Grant Applications
In 2024, the Town worked hard to reduce the financial impact of the water projects by applying for these grants:
- Total grant application value: $14,920,000
- Local Growth and Sustainability Grant: $7,000,000
- Drought & Flood Protection Program: $7,000,000
- Alberta Municipal Water/Wastewater Program: $920,000
- We hope to know by March 2025 If we are successful in getting the grants. Check back here for updates.
Questions?
- Ask your questions about water projects here!