Completion of major drinking water system in southern Manitoba

The Manitoba government marked the completion of a major drinking water system that will protect the environment and create stability and long-term well-being for residents of the Rural Municipality (RM) of Macdonald.

“Our government is committed to ensuring that communities across Manitoba have the reliable, modern water infrastructure they need to grow and thrive,” said Municipal and Northern Relations Minister Glen Simard. “The expansion of the Sanford Water Treatment Plant represents a major investment in long‑term sustainability for residents and businesses along the McGillivray Boulevard corridor. This project reflects our dedication to building safe, healthy and prosperous communities throughout rural Manitoba.”

The newly constructed 1.2-million-litre treated reservoir and pumping station with standby generator will service existing and future residential and commercial developments for the RM of Macdonald’s McGillivray Boulevard area. The $6-million project was completed with approximately $2.3 million in provincial funding and $1.6 million from the federal Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.

“Safe, reliable drinking water is fundamental to the health and well-being of every community,” said Doug Eyolfson, MP for Winnipeg West. “Investments like the new McGillivray Boulevard reservoir and the expansion of the Sanford Water Treatment Plant will help ensure families and businesses in the Rural Municipality of Macdonald have dependable access to clean drinking water while supporting the community’s continued growth. By investing in essential infrastructure today, we are strengthening rural Manitoba, protecting public health, and building resilient communities that are prepared for the future.”

Building on this investment, the expansion of the Sanford Water Treatment Plant is currently underway, with completion anticipated by July 2027. The regional facility delivers water directly to the community of Sanford, remote reservoirs in Oak Bluff, La Salle, Starbuck, Brunkild and Domain, and the new McGillivray reservoir. The project includes upgrading the dual membrane filtration treatment system, which will double the plant’s treatment capacity to 120 litres per second from 60 litres per second, to better service growing populations and developments throughout the municipality.

Key components of the $32-million project, which includes $15 million in funding from the Manitoba government, are:

• constructing a 1,000-sq.-m. pre-engineered building structure;
• adding a 2.5-million-litre cast-in-place concrete reservoir beneath the new building;
• installing four new ultrafiltration membrane units, two new reverse osmosis trains, two greensand pressure filters and a new chemical storage and handling area; and
• replacing the raw water intake screen in the La Salle River to meet current federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans compliance standards.

“The municipality is extremely grateful to the governments of Canada and Manitoba for these critical investments in a new water reservoir that services the McGillivray Enterprise Area and water treatment plant expansion,” said Brad Erb, reeve, RM of Macdonald. “This ensures we can continue to support and accommodate sustainable residential and commercial growth in the municipality which is also good for Manitoba’s economy.”

Featured image: (RM of Macdonald)