New funding flows into securing Lethbridge’s water future

The City of Lethbridge is moving forward with critical upgrades to its Water Treatment Plant. This phase begins thanks in part to a $9.2 million grant from the Province of Alberta.

The improvements will make sure there’s enough water for residents and businesses now, and into the future.

The first phase includes two major projects:

• A new high-capacity clarifier will back up older equipment
• Electrical upgrades will swap out aging equipment and add extra power sources

Both projects ensure the plant can keep working smoothly, even during unexpected problems.

The estimated cost for the initial upgrades is $67.2 million and is part of the 2022 – 2031 Capital Improvement Program.

“This investment is a major win for our community,” said Mayor Blaine Hyggen. “It protects our water, helps support future growth and meets the needs of residents, businesses and industry. And the best part – there’s no increase to residential water rates for this phase.”

Water capital funding will help cover project costs, and debt servicing is already factored into existing water rates. This keeps borrowing affordable without raising rates. The Province of Alberta is supporting the project with $9.2 million through the Local Growth and Sustainability Grant (LGSG).

“As Alberta’s population grows, we need strong infrastructure to keep up,” says Nathan Neudorf, Minister of Affordability and Utilities and MLA for Lethbridge-East. “This grant will help make sure Lethbridge, and the surrounding region, has the water it needs to support families, businesses and economic development for years to come.”

“Supporting municipalities growth and prosperity is a top priority,” says Dan Williams, Minister of Municipal Affairs. “These upgrades give the city confidence in accommodating their growing population while capitalizing on economic opportunity.”

The increased capacity is especially important for the region’s thriving agri-food and manufacturing sectors.

“A consistent and reliable water supply is essential to the continuity of our operations here in Lethbridge,” said Al Wilhelm, Senior Director of Operations at Richardson International’s oilseed processing plant. “We rely on critical resources like water to ensure we can continue delivering reliable service to our own customers. Continued investment in essential infrastructure, such as upgrades to the municipal water treatment system, is a timely and important step by the City, and we appreciate their support in moving this project forward.”

The Water Treatment Plant runs 24 hours a day. It serves more than 133,000 southern Albertans across 10 municipalities. These early improvements set the stage for future growth.

“This is just phase one of a long-term expansion,” said Joel Sanchez, Director of Infrastructure Services. “The new high-rate clarifier provides redundancy and is the first step in boosting daily capacity from 150 million litres to 180 million litres. But we know we need more. Future planned phases would boost capacity to 250 million litres a day. That increase would support new jobs, industries and growth for our region.”

Phase one of construction is scheduled to begin later this month, with completion planned for December 2027. The City will continue to explore funding options, including with the Government of Alberta, to support future phases of expansion.

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