OLDS — Council hopes to relay concern about Olds' costly inflow and infiltration problem and the need for provincial help to deal with it during a face-to-face meeting with Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors Minister Devin Dreeshen.
The bill for water seeping into the town’s sewer and water system is expected to hit $2.3 million, according to director of corporate services Sheena Linderman.
As a result, during its Nov. 27 meeting, council took up a suggestion from chief administrative officer Brent Williams to pass an “emergent motion” calling on Town of Olds Mayor Judy Dahl to request a meeting with Dreeshen.
“This request is to discuss our wastewater situation with him and ask questions on the efficacy of current funding programs that are under his ministry, specifically, the near complete lack of funding available for distribution pipe infrastructure (I.e., internal water and wastewater works),” Williams wrote in an email to the Albertan.
Williams said the province’s ministry of transportation is responsible for water/sewer programs.
He said in the early 2010s, that ministry was involved in the effort to encourage many central Alberta municipalities to join regional wastewater commissions.
Olds obtains its drinking water via the Mountain View Regional Water Services Commission and its wastewater is dealt with by the South Red Deer Regional Wastewater Commission.
“We would also like to discuss with him some of the impacts of those decisions 10 years on,” Williams wrote.
Williams noted that in her mandate letter to Dreeshen outlining his responsibilities, Premier Danielle Smith said the funding of distribution infrastructure "should be examined more closely.”
