The Town of Battleford hosted an open house Wednesday last week for residents to see and ask questions about the pumphouse recently completed to serve West Park.
Manager of Utilities Aubrey Whittleton said the new pumphouse and reservoir will increase water pressure for West Park residents, and for the area’s fire hydrants.
Whittleton said water pressure would be low during times of heavy use, such as around 6 p.m.
“The old system came up the hill, so residents at the top of West Park didn’t have great pressure,” Whittleton said.
Water comes from Battleford’s water plant and is piped to West Park, Whittleton said.
“Now everyone should have equalized pressure throughout.”
Whittleton said the facility looks complicated, but basically “it’s just a big storage building” that pumps water out.
According to Whittleton, about 30 years ago it was noted that the pumphouse was needed.
Councillor Doug Laing, who presents a regular wastewater report to council, said “some good” came for Battleford as a result of the Husky oil spill, including increased revenue when the City of North Battleford purchased water from the town, and when Husky reimbursed the town.
The entire pumphouse and reservoir project cost approximately $3 million, according to Battleford Chief Administrative Officer John Enns-Wind.
