4.10 Utility Services

The Utility Master Plan prepared by Sameng Inc. provides details of the current issues and future servicing strategies and infrastructure framework for Sturgeon County’s Industrial Heartland ASP area.  The following summarizes the current situation and issues related to utility services.

Potable Water Supply

The existing Northeast Water Services Commission (NEWSC) line runs northeast along the Canadian National railway from W4/Sturgeon Industrial Park to the Agrium Fertilizer Plant near the turn of Highway 643.  At Highway 643, the 300 mm diameter pipe downsizes to 250 mm and changes alignment to run north towards the Town of Redwater along Highway 38.  The entire ASP area will require potable water servicing for both construction of the plants as well as for normal plant operation.  To secure the supply of potable water, it is necessary to:

• assess existing infrastructure capability with NEWSC and, its baseline demand projections;
• confirm water availability with EPCOR water service;
• define issues and needs of existing customers, and
• define the potable water needs of the project proponents.

Wastewater Collection

The Plan area has an existing wastewater collection pipeline jointly constructed by Agrium and Sturgeon County.  This pipeline originates at the Agrium plant site as a 300 mm diameter forcemain which is increased to 500 mm at Twp Rd 560.  Agrium is the only user of this pipeline which is used to discharge some of its contaminated stormwater runoff.  The pipeline has been designed to accommodate additional flows.

Wastewater issues to be addressed include:

• define the layout of the ultimate sewer configuration to service the entire study area;
• define what flows (domestic and/or process) must be accommodated; and
• coordinate with the Alberta Capital Region Wastewater Commission to determine downstream upgrade requirements.

Stormwater Management

The Sturgeon County Heartland area encompasses a number of distinct sub-basins (see Map 14 Stormwater Management Concept.)  The majority of the basins form a dominant watercourse discharging into the North Saskatechwan River.  There are also a number of catchment areas that exhibit overland flow and do not have defined drainage channels.  All of the existing watercourses are stable and research to date does not reveal historic drainage problems.

Protection of major watercourses and flow routes is needed to allow orderly development of the Heartland area and to maintain riparian right of flows from outside the study area.  The following stormwater issues have to be addressed:

• identify major natural water courses and flow routes;
• identify erosion protection requirements and costs; and
• determine maximum permissible post development discharge rates.

Process Water Supply

Process water supply is not a traditional municipal utility service. There are advantages to sharing some process water supply infrastructure:

• shared storage to supplement supply during low river flow periods would improve operational reliability and reduce impact on the North Saskatchewan River;
• one or two shared river intakes would reduce the environmental footprint of the required infrastructure; and
• to allow better utilization of the Heartland area if process water supply is provided.

Shallow or Franchise Utilities

There are other major utility service providers to this area.  These typically include natural gas, electric and communications services.  As the infrastructure of these are owned and operated by private third parties, the County’s role is one of coordination.  Throughout this planning process, utility right of ways are being planned while taking some of the franchise utility needs into consideration.