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Council approves to update water and sewer projects for rural communities

Last Updated Jun 21, 2017 at 5:28 pm MDT

Piped sewer and water service to rural residents of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) will be coming in 2019.

The communities of Janvier, Conklin, Anzac, Gregoire Lake Estates, Saprae Creek and Draper were promised piped sewer and water, or similar/ equivalent services at amalgamation in 1995.

The Rural Coalition, along with about 20 other rural residents spoke at a  special council meeting that was called for June 20, 2017 to discuss the vital projects.

Council voted unanimously to proceed with the implementation of the Rural Water, Sewer and Road Rehabilitation Program

“We are thrilled to see, that after 22 years of delay, that the RMWB will be moving forward with these important projects,” said Ron Quintal, a resident of Fort McKay and spokesperson for the Rural Coalition. “After decades of false starts and delays, we are happy to be working with the council that will finally get it right.”

Quintal added that residents have had to deal with everything from outhouses to sewage backing up into basements or having to ration water supplies so they don’t run out.

Currently residents who live in the rural areas of the municipality rely on water and sewage being trucked in and out, a method not approved by Alberta Environment, they only recommend water that is “source-to-tap”.

“The fact is, the rural residents of the RMWB are currently being given water that the province of Alberta would not allow to flow into the homes of the urban residents of Fort McMurray,” said Darryl Woytkiw, President of the Anzac Community Association.

“Not only that, in the long run, piped water and sewer will be cheaper than trucked in water. This change is going to be a real win-win as the rural residents will, at long last, get a steady and safe water supply, while saving taxpayers money”.

The special council meeting also talked of installing fire hydrants in the communities of Conklin, Anzac, Draper and Sapre Creek.

Quintal, who is also the deputy fire chief in Fort McKay, says they’ve learned the hard way the cost of not being prepared.