The Community Issues Committee received an update on the City of Lethbridge’s Wastewater Treatment Plant on Thursday.
Officials said aging infrastructure and rising demand for water are putting pressure on the plant. With that, the City has put together an Asset Management Plan for the plant.
The document highlights the level of investment that is needed to keep the facility safe, reliable, and able to support future growth in and of the community.
The last time the plant was expanded was in 1989, with officials noting that many parts of the site are now at or past their expected service life.
Officials said several key systems are in poor or very poor conditions, with issues increasing the risk of equipment failure and disruption to service.
Additionally, the presentation noted that the issues make it more difficult for the City to meet regulatory standards.
Lethbridge’s Wastewater Treatment Plant is designed to treat 50 million litres of wastewater every day. Officials said it already operates at or higher than that level during normal conditions because incoming wastewater is so strong, and this limits the City’s ability to support new homes, businesses, and industrial development.
“The Wastewater Treatment Plant is one of the most important services we provide, but the facility is under real strain,” said Director of Infrastructure Services Joel Sanchez.
“Many systems are old, and we no longer have backup options if something breaks. That puts the community at risk.”
The Asset Management Plan estimates that expansion and upgrades to the plant will cost somewhere between $250-million and $350-million.
“This plan gives us a clear picture of what needs to happen,” Sanchez added.
“The costs are significant. However, the risks of doing nothing are even greater. We need to protect public health, the environment and the reliability of our wastewater system.”
The plan was received by the committee as information, with the next phase being to focus on identifying funding options for the upgrades required. Administration will present options at the May 13 Community Issues Committee meeting. Officials added that discussion will be part of the 2027-2036 Capital Improvement Plan workshop.
More details regarding work at the plant are available on the City of Lethbridge website.
