Brooks receives $4 million for water project

By ANNA SMITH Local Journalism Initiative on August 10, 2024.

The province has committed more than $30 million into community projects to protect municipalities against drought and flood, including about $4 million for Brooks.

The Drought and Flood Protection Program will help fund projects throughout the province, in 14 municipalities, two First Nations and one MÃ©tis settlement. The funding will help communities access water during extreme low flows and protect critical infrastructure while helping homes and businesses stay dry in the event of floods, the province says.

“Albertans know all too well the devastating effects of drought and flooding,” said Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas. “Communities in virtually all regions in our province have had recent experience dealing with these challenges. We are investing in projects that will help protect homes, businesses and lives.”

The program was launched earlier in the year to help communities design and construct projects that protect critical infrastructure and assure public safety.

“Our government is committed to protecting Albertans and our communities from the impacts of floods and drought,” said RJ Sigurdson, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation. “This funding will help support the resiliency of our water management infrastructure in order to mitigate risks, reduce the disastrous effects of floods and drought, and ensure that Albertans consistently have a safe supply of water available.”

For Brooks, this funding will mean the completion of a storm main along First Street and Ninth Avenue connecting to Stafford Lake, a floating treatment wetlands to improve water quality in Stafford Lake and installation of a water quality monitoring system. There is also potential for a new stormwater pond in Fairview Park.

Brooks Mayor John Petrie told the News the city uses raw water to irrigate properties, which he added makes more sense than watering with treated water from the plant.

Recently, said Petrie, the city was doing some testing around Lake Stafford for water quality. While the quality of the water is currently sufficient, what they would like to do is improve the quality of the water, including runoff collected from the roads before it is returned to the lake, as it is also being used for irrigation.

“The other part of the project there, too, is we want to increase pipes around Garrow Avenue,” said Petrie. “Right now, what happens a lot of times, we have a low lying area around some businesses on Second Avenue, where it kind of collects during and after major rain.”

By using this money here, the city can upsize the pipe and divert that water away, preventing this flooding.

Petrie discussed the possibility of the stormwater pond, but said that at this time, it’s unclear if it will be possible or even necessary to include as part of this project.

The funds provided by the province will cover 70 per cent of the cost of the project, while the City of Brooks provides the remaining funds. Petrie said they will be pursuing engineering and design work soon if it can be done over the autumn and winter, though he suspects it is getting late in the year to begin any construction.

“We’re grateful for the grant,” said Petrie. “It helps with a much needed project and saves Brooks taxpayers dollars.”