MOOSE JAW — City administration’s most important upcoming infrastructure project is likely constructing a new Crescent View Lift Station (CVLS), because without it, the City of Moose Jaw would likely be uninhabitable.
Administration provided an update about the $66.41-million Crescent View headworks venue during the recent budget meeting. Furthermore, it secured city council’s approval to issue tenders this year and start construction in 2026 on the lift station, septic receiving station and grit separator while supporting the project with in-house funding.
Specifically, the operations department will use $24 million in carry-forward money from 2024, $5.45 million in 2025, $10.74 million in 2026 and $26.12 million in 2027. City hall may have to borrow $30 million if the feds or province fail to provide funding.
Headworks refers to the initial stage of a wastewater treatment plant where raw sewage first enters the system. Its primary role is to prepare the wastewater for the subsequent treatment processes. This preparation involves screening large debris, removing grit, and equalizing flow rates to ensure that the treatment system functions efficiently and effectively.
According to a report, the headworks will meet several objectives, including:
- Serving a population of 45,000 people
- Providing a screening and grit removal system — the primary treatment — and an upgraded pumping system to handle a one-in-25-year storm event for a community of 45,000 residents; the system could handle up to 1,526 litres per second during such a storm
- Providing upgraded septage receiving and potable water truck filling systems
For the community
City administration has been focusing on the Crescent View project for years and has reached the point where it must construct the new headworks for the sake of employees, taxpayers and the community’s future growth, said Bevan Harlton, director of operations.
The new headworks will have a revenue-generating septic receiving station where residents and commercial businesses can dump their waste and a two-stage grit separation system, which will minimize coarser material from going through the plant, preserve the sewage treatment plant’s lifespan and improve outgoing treated sewage, he continued.
The municipality will demolish the CVLS because it’s not possible to upgrade the venue with the newer pump system or other technology, Harlton stated. Also, once construction begins, most existing funding opportunities will likely be eliminated.
When asked what guarantees council had that the project wouldn’t increase in cost before construction began — in 2022, it was estimated at $26.6 million — Harlton replied that the best way to secure a project’s price is to award the tender and begin construction; regardless, all significant capital projects carry the risk of increased costs.
The operations director added that the CVLS serves the entire community since every sanitary main or force main ends at that venue.
Council’s comments
“I think this community understands that this is a major project (and) it is very much required … ,” said Coun. Chris Warren.
Although this project is in the millions of dollars, it will help Moose Jaw with its future growth target of 45,000 people, which may take “quite a few years” to reach, he chuckled. However, this initiative is setting up the community in a positive, long-term way.
Coun. Dawn Luhning pointed out that council may have to borrow $30 million to pay for this project if more provincial or federal funding opportunities don’t arise.
“I really think it needs to be reiterated and stressed how expensive this project is, but also how very important it is,” she said. “We are looking at significant tax dollars doing into this.”
Luhning added that the city will likely pay $3.9 million in PST charges alone on this project because of the policy the province instituted in 2017 on major construction initiatives.
