By: Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Prince Albert Daily Herald
The Prince Albert Rural Water Utility (PARWU) has awarded three components as the process to build a new Water Treatment Plant on the North Saskatchewan River continues.
In the fall of 2021, a Request for Proposal (RFP) on Regulatory and Permitting was sent to selected companies. The RFP was to provide regulatory requirements for aquatic habitat, environmental impact, heritage resource impact assessment, site evaluations, and the duty to consult. The Regulator and Permitting RFP was awarded to Canada North Environmental Services (CanNorth).
CanNorth is a private environmental consulting company that is 100% owned by Kitsaki Management Limited Partnership (KMLP), the investment arm of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band.
Two have been awarded to Associated Engineering (AE), and one has been awarded to PINTER and Associates Ltd (PINTER).
AE will be completing the Water Treatment Plant Design and the North Saskatchewan River Crossing Design. PINTER will be completing the Pipeline Hydraulic and Sizing Engineering, which focuses on the pipeline to Shellbrook and PARWU’s existing system.
“The knowledge and expertise brought to the table by CanNorth is tremendous. The PARWU Board was astonished by the level of detail provided in each report. They investigate everything from amphibian auditory reports, and heritage resource impacts, to the engagement with the First Nations, Metis, and Stakeholders” Ken Danger, PARWU General Manager, said in a release.
“CanNorth is pleased to provide environmental, regulatory, and engagement services to PARWU to help inform project decisions and their vision for responsible and sustainable development of the Water Treatment Facility. Environmental and heritage field studies will begin this spring, and engagement opportunities will follow this summer and fall. CanNorth is a 100% Indigenous-owned firm that has been providing a wide range of environmental consulting services to industry, government agencies, First Nations, and other client types for over 35 years,” Cassandra Rees, Aquatic Manager/Senior Aquatic Ecologist with CanNorth added.
Building a sustainable development with the consideration of the environment is of the utmost importance to PARWU in the design and requirements in the planning for the future Water Treatment Plant and Pipelines.
Two other components have been awarded to Associated Engineering (AE), and one has been awarded to PINTER and Associates Ltd (PINTER).
AE will be completing the Water Treatment Plant Design and the North Saskatchewan River Crossing Design. PINTER will be completing the Pipeline Hydraulic and Sizing Engineering, which focuses on the pipeline to Shellbrook and PARWU’s existing system.
CanNorth in conjunction with PARWU will be marketing engagement opportunities early this summer to explore the positive and negative impacts as a result of the planning, construction, and operation of the project.
PARWU purchases water from the City of Prince Albert that serves a network of customers in the RM of Buckland, the RM of Prince Albert, the Muskoday First Nation and the RM of Duck Lake. The PARWU board also now has representatives from the RM of Shellbrook and Town of Shellbrook for regional collaboration to enlarge the PARWU’s ability to service more municipalities with fresh, good drinking water.