The expansions to the Melfort Water Treatment Plant includes an additional treatment train, upgrades to three filters, installation of a backup generator, and replacement of aging transfer pipes. (Rachel May/northeastNOW staff)

By Rachel May

Water supply system upgrades

Melfort’s water treatment plant gets a $9.6 million upgrade

Oct 21, 2021 | 4:06 PM

SaskWater revealed the newest addition to the Melfort water treatment plant today which features $9.6 million in upgrades to the existing Codette Lake Regional Water Supply System.

SaskWater’s president, Doug Matthies, said he is happy to continue providing clean water to the community.

The $9.6-million project will now “make sure we have safe and reliable water for all of the 9,000 people we serve for years and years to come,” Matthies said.

Users in the City of Melfort, Melfort Rural Pipeline Association, Weldon, Kinistino, Beatty, Star City, Wapiti Valley Regional Park as well as rural users can expect safe drinking water, he said.

“I think the key takeaway is there will be safe reliable drinking water for decades to come as a result of this project. Not only does that support growth, but there is also a lot of capacity to support growth within the city and the region,” Matthies said.

Made in Saskatchewan

Find My Plus One: The Canadian App for Getting Out and Living Your Best Life

Mar 09, 2026

Riderville

Ask Not for Whom the Ed Hervey Tampering Window Opens!

Feb 02, 2026

Seniors Scene

New Year - New Habits

Feb 02, 2026

The expansion features an additional treatment train consisting of a clarifier, a Clearwell, and two filters.

As part of this project, three existing filters were upgraded, a backup generator was installed, and ageing transfer pipes were replaced.

Matthies said that the project wouldn’t have been possible if not for the support of the provincial and federal governments.

“We received both grant funding from the federal and provincial governments. Each of the two levels of government provided $2.8 million,” Matthies said. “So we are very grateful for the support.”

Saskatchewan Water said the purpose of this project is redundancy since having two of everything is beneficial to minimize disruptions to customers. The site boasts two functional clarifiers from this point going forward.

Through chemical coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection, the water treatment plant transforms river water into safe drinking water.

The water treatment plant was first built in 1958, and it was upgraded in 1972. In 1994, SaskWater purchased the plant and expanded it.

Prior to the upgrade, the 1994 expansion was the only plant operating, as the original is no longer in operation.

About every 20 years, the water treatment plant undergoes upgrades, and the 2021 expansions should help the facility improve and maintain its water quality for the next 20 plus years.

Originally, the project was expected to be completed in March of 2021. Matthies said the project went smoothly, despite some bumps along the way.

“We did run into some issues because of COVID. The contractor ended up with some of their staff coming down with COVID. So that shut the job site down for a period of time while they did a deep cleaning. There were also some minor delays that impacted supply chain issues,” Matthies said.

–

Rachel.May@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RachelMayFM