If the taps were tightened somewhat after the Regional Utilities and Services Commission withdrew the application for a water supply line to Bonnyville last year, recent decisions and discussions of concerned parties loosened the spigot.
Both the City and the RUSC rejected Bonnyville's offer to enter mediation, as recommended by the minister of environment. The City of Cold Lake council has raised several valid concerns. An environmental assessment has not been completed to appraise possible effects to downstream users. Only water level data has been used to determine that a water supply line to Bonnyville is feasible.
Further, with a water licence for only 65,000 people, the RUSC raised concerns of what would happen if the population in the region grew to exceed the water licence. With continual oil development, pending approvals, and current projects underway, steady population growth in the region is certain for the foreseeable future. Cold Lake is hesitant to pipe water westward because of the city's potential future growth.
Alberta Environment and Bonnyville Town Council agree that Moose Lake is a “less than suitable” source of water. Staying with Moose Lake water means continuing to pay high costs for chemicals to provide clear drinking water to the town. Further, a study would need to determine exactly what a plant upgrade would cost, as the last study was completed five years ago.
With more stringent water quality standards coming into play, a decision on Bonnyville's water future remains a draining concern. For the time being, finding the cost of upgrading Bonnyville's water treatment plant is a good place to start. In the meantime, efforts to conduct an environmental assessment on Cold Lake could move forward to determine possible effects of a water supply line on downstream users, and satisfy the RUSC and City.
