New reservoir to enlarge potable water capacity in Coaldale

Sunny South News PHOTO By Cal Braid. GROUNDBREAKING: Coaldale council and town staff gather to break ground for a huge underground reservoir that will more than double the town’s water storage capacity.

By Cal Braid
Southern Alberta Newspapers
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Representatives from the Town of Coaldale gathered on Aug. 6 for a groundbreaking ceremony at the site of a new potable water reservoir and pump station.

The $13 million project, located on 18 Ave. across from Bos Sod Farms, will more than double the town’s capacity for clean water. 

The town’s current reservoir has a capacity of 3,400 cubic metres and the new one will expand that capacity to 8,000 cubic metres. Mayor Jack Van Rijn spoke before the ceremonial spades struck soil, saying, “this project was a key priority in the Town’s infrastructure master plan from 2019, ensuring that Coaldale has the infrastructure to support our communities’ aspirations. 

“The potable water reservoir and pump station project is more than just an investment in physical infrastructure; it is an investment in the well-being of our residents, the vitality of our local economy, and the safety of our homes and businesses.” 

In its 2021-2025 strategic plan, town council identified the need to improve Coaldale’s municipal water infrastructure. Van Rijn said that excluding the times when the water supply needs to be tapped for fire protection, municipal water demands will exceed storage capacity within five years. 

The project is a proactive move to ensure that the water supply won’t be outpaced by the projected growth of residents and businesses. The new underground reservoir will be roughly as large as three Olympic-sized swimming pools and the pump capacity will be sufficient to meet increasing demands and maintain water pressure. The new site will be constructed to optimize the turnover of the reservoir and keep the water circulating to avoid stagnation while maintaining chlorine residuals. In April 2023, the province gave the Town a grant worth $525,045 for the engineering and design component of the project. In June 2024, the Alberta Municipal Water and Wastewater Partnership program contributed another $4.5 million to the project, an infusion that allowed the Town to move ahead without delays due to funding shortfalls. Van Rijn gave special thanks to the infrastructure, utilities, operations, and capital projects departments of the Town. He said the project was a collaboration between Town council, municipal staff engineers, Lethbridge County, and the province. He called the moment “a celebration of Coaldale’s forward momentum,” and the spades hit the ground while heavy equipment loomed in the backdrop, waiting to begin.