Residents living in the southeast section of the Town of Peace River can look forward to improved flow then they turn on their taps.
Mayor Tom Tarpey was joined by Deputy Mayor Elaine Manzer, Councillors Colin Needham and Johanna Downing and members of staff to unveil Reservoir 365.
Jim McCuaig is the town’s Director of Infrastructure and Engineering and says there is no comparison between the former reservoir and the new one.
“The old reservoir was 300 cubes of water for storage capacity compared to 1200, which we have today,” says McCuaig.
“This allows us to meet our firefighting requirements in the south end, while also making sure we have a three-day supply of water should the treatment plant fail for residents in this portion of town.”
McCuaig also tells the Trending 55 Newsroom that there is a generator on site in the event of a power failure.
He says that had the former reservoir not been replaced, the town planned to add a generator, but instead decided to make sure one was part of the new one.
“As long as ATCO gas can provide us gas, the reservoir will keep running,” points out McCuaig.
Inside Reservoir 365, September 11, 2020. Photo supplied by Kenny Trenton
Mayor Tom Tarpey was thrilled to cut the ribbon yesterday to officially open the new reservoir and says it was the final peace of the puzzle for the south end renewal project.
“It is really the bow that has tied the whole south end renewal together,” explains Tarpey.
“A lot of this infrastructure is 50-70 years-old, particularly the underground infrastructure and we made a concerted effort to bring it back up to par.”
The total cost of the project was tagged at $6.3 million, and $2.7 million of that came from the provincial government, and Tarpey was thankful to Peace River MLA, Dan Williams for his help in securing the funding from the province.
“He (Williams is really a good friend of our community and our council,” praises Tarpey.
Williams says he was glad to be able to step up for south end Peace River residents.
“Access to safe water is incredibly important to the viability of our northern communities, so the grand opening of Reservoir 365 is welcome news for the Town of Peace River,” says Williams.
“I was happy to work with the Town, and want to thank Alberta’s government for providing the $2.7 million grant, and I’m happy to know that residents will have reliable drinking water for years to come as a result of this investment.”
In closing, Tarpey says the town will now be focusing on other areas for renewal.
“Now it is onto the neighbourhood renewals in the downtown residential area and the north end.”
– Kenny Trenton, Trending 55 Newsroom
