Foothills County and the Town of Okotoks marked a major milestone in the development of a shared water pipeline on Monday.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the Foothills Regional Water Project was held on Oct. 21, near the project’s water intake site southeast of Calgary.
The project will provide an additional water source to support residential and commercial growth in the Town and County, the Town of Okotoks said.
After being in the works for several years, the system is expected to be in operation sometime in 2026.
Untreated water will be pumped from the Bow River, near where it meets the Highwood River, to treatment facilities in both municipalities.
Foothills County Reeve Delilah Miller said the joint project is a milestone worth celebrating.
“May our municipalities continue to work together in the spirit of partnership and use these resources wisely and thoughtfully,” Miller said.
Okotoks Mayor Tanya Thorn said the pipeline has been a long time coming, going back longer than the 11 years she has been on council.
“Today is much more than just the beginning of construction,” Thorn said. “It symbolizes the power of partnership, planning, and our shared commitment to building a sustainable future."
The project can be a model for other regions facing water scarcity, she said.
“This has been a long road filled with many twists and turns, and it wouldn't have been possible without our genuine collaboration.”
Once built, the intake will draw water into a 29-kilometre pipeline system, carrying it to water treatment plants and water storage facilities in both municipalities, with a pumping station and raw water reservoir in between.
As the first phase of the project gets underway, the procurement process for other phases is ongoing, said Okotoks operations and utilities director Jeremy Huet.
Provincial funding for the project was announced in 2022, and cost increases saw the Province provide about $30 million in total to cover 45 per cent of eligible costs.
Additional costs are being shared between both municipalities. The Town of Okotoks said there will be no impact to taxpayers, with grants and off-site levies funding the balance of costs.
