The South Red Deer Regional Wastewater System project in Alberta, Canada, was recently named a 2016 Public Works Project of the Year by the American Public Works Association (APWA). The project is being honored with APWA’s Project of the Year award in the Small Cities/Rural Communities - Environment category. This award honors agencies representing cities and communities with a population of 75,000 or less that have included treatment and recycling facilities, landfill reclamation projects, and sewer projects.
The Small Cities/Rural Cities Project of the Year Award was established to promote excellence in demonstrating creativity, ingenuity and efficiency in the delivery of public works projects that have a profound impact on the community. For 2016, the team of winners includes the South Red Deer Regional Wastewater Commission as the managing agency; Pidherney’s, Inc., as the primary contractor; and Stantec as the primary consultant; who will be presented with the award during APWA’s 2016 PWX, Public Works Expo, annual conference taking place in Minneapolis, MN Ceremony during August 27-31, 2016.
Eight years ago, the South Red Deer Regional Wastewater Commission (SRDRWC) and Stantec started designing a system linking the central Alberta communities of Olds, Bowden, Innisfail, Penhold, Mountain View County, and Red Deer County to the Red Deer’s Wastewater Treatment facility. The 56-mile regional line alleviated the pressure faced by these communities and their overloaded treatment systems. The length of the South Red Deer Regional Wastewater System (SRDRWS) posed a huge design challenge in a highly populated corridor, and crossed several environmentally sensitive areas. Each government body—municipal, provincial and federal—had individual requirements that had to be met. The final product is a unique and sophisticated system.
Designed for a 25-year horizon, the $140million SRDRWS will allow the communities along the line to grow at a steady rate. This project features four major wastewater lift stations equipped with odor treatment; approximately 56 miles of force main with an outside diameter ranging from 22 inches to 34 inches; Alberta’s first dual-media Odor Management Facility; a triple barrel siphon under the Red Deer River; Stantec designed, state-of-the-art operation and monitoring system with a user friendly interface for operators; a pipeline alignment that would minimize the impact on the environment (wetlands, wildlife, plants) and extensive environmental monitoring for the impacted areas. It was important that Red Deer wastewater treatment plant could accept the wastewater from them SRDRWS by completing extensive upgrades.
Following 15 years of concepts, studies, consultations, design/construction phases, and testing, the SRDRWS went online in the summer of 2015. With the system now operational, wastewater from each of the six communities is being treated to higher standards at the Red Deer wastewater treatment plant. This helps protect the aquatic environment and the quality of the source water for much of Central Alberta.
The successful completion of the SRDRWS can now be used as a model for the north and west legs of the Central Alberta Regional Wastewater System, and will ultimately help to protect valuable natural resources, while supporting growth in the region for years to come.
The APWA Public Works Projects of the Year awards are presented annually to promote excellence in the management and administration of public works projects, recognizing the alliance between the managing agency, contractor, consultant and their cooperative achievements. This year, APWA selected projects in five categories in the Small Cities/Rural Communities area: Disaster/Emergency, Environment, Historical Restoration, Structures, and Transportation.
For more information on the APWA 2016 Projects of the Year, please contact APWA Media Relations and Communications Manager, Laura Bynum, [email protected], or call 202.218.6736.
For Stantec media queries, contact Ashley Warnock, Public Relations Manager, Canada Mountain at Phone: 403-441-5105 or Cell: 403-472-0122, or E: [email protected].
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