Water plant upgrade gets go-ahead at town council

An upgrade at the water plant in Battleford got the approval of town council Monday.

Utilities manager Aubrey Whittleton explained the upgrade is to the plant’s computer operating system, known as SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition system).

The intention is to keep the system current with the newest technology. Whittleton explained the system is becoming obsolete and replacement parts are hard to find, resulting in costly repairs. It is required to operate the plant efficiently, he said.

The cost is $167,700 plus taxes; other town capital projects will be deferred to accommodate the funding of the upgrade. There will be no impact on the 2021 budget as a result. Council voted in favour of the project Monday.