Infrastructure may not be sexy but it is an important part of small town Saskatchewan.
And Watson had a reason to celebrate on June 1 with the grand opening of their new lift station and forced main, a major improvement to the town’s sewer system.
The $2.18 million project was completed in April and Mayor Norma Weber says it has been years in the making.
“We’ve been limping our old sewer lift station along for several years until we finally got approved for the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund. We were very anxious to get going on this and get it completed.”
The new lift station will provide reliable service to the town of Watson, as well as a greater capacity for the current population and future growth.
Weber and Minister for Government Relations Warren Kaeding were on hand to celebrate the important occasion with Kaeding saying any improvements that can be made to Saskatchewan’s municipal infrastructure is something to celebrate.
“Every community has some project they need to expand their services or improve quality of life for the residents. Anytime we have the opportunity to do something significant like this is certainly going to enhance any communities offerings to their residents.”
And many Saskatchewan communities are in need when it comes to infrastructure improvements. Kaeding ventures that there is well over a billion dollars in projects to get communities where they are comfortable with solid infrastructure.
The Clean Water and Wastewater Fund contributed much needed funding from both the federal and provincial governments with contributions of over $1.6 million going towards the project.
Weber says the town will raise the remaining funds with residents contributing through their water bills.
A previous levy for a different project has just wrapped up so that levy is now contributing to the lift station without the town raising taxes anymore that needed. Weber says the town is contributing around $547,000 for the project.
With the lift station project complete, Weber says the town now turns their attention towards the Quill Plains Healthcare Foundation project that will revitalizs 12 bed wing in their level four care home.
