By Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators, June 1, 2016
Winnipeg, MB (June 1, 2016) – The Town of Kindersley, SK has received national recognition for its Waste Water Project from the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators (CAMA). The Town was presented with the 2016 CAMA Willis Award for Innovation, in the Under 20,000 population category, during CAMA’s national conference in Winnipeg, MB. Ravenhill Group Inc. is the sponsor for the awards.
“CAMA is pleased to recognize the innovation demonstrated by Kindersley for its waste water project,” said Don MacLellan, president of the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators and General Manager – Community Safety Services for Moncton, NB. “This is an innovative municipal-private sector partnership that captures backwash waste water for industrial use and generates new revenue for the municipality.”
Steadily escalating water consumption was being recorded at the Kindersley Water Treatment Facility. While this was due in part to an increasing population, there was also an extensive strain being placed on the facility by local fracking companies who were drawing on large amounts of treated water for their service needs.
The result was increased water consumption that not only cut into Kindersley’s supply of potable water, but also affected the time required for the water treatment facility to replenish the potable water supply. Following a Request for Proposal process, Kindersley partnered with Holland’s Hot Oiling to construct and install a wastewater storage reservoir. All construction, installation and permit costs were paid for by Holland’s.
The new reservoir station began operation in August 2014, with revenue being shared between the two parties. The reservoir is expected to generate $500,000 for the municipality over a five-year period.
The project will allow for diminished strain on Kindersley’s water treatment infrastructure; greater environmental stewardship of a priority natural resource; and, municipal ownership and management of the waste water infrastructure after five years, all at no additional cost to taxpayers. In addition, the project supports the sustainability of oil and gas operations in the Kindersley region with less negative impact to water resources.
“A total of 41 submissions from all across the country were received for this year’s CAMA awards program,” said Marc Landry, Chair of CAMA’s Awards Committee, as well as the CAMA Representative for Alberta & Northwest Territories and Chief Administrative Officer, Town of Beaumont, AB. “The entire Committee was very impressed by the exciting projects that are being done by communities of all sizes. Congratulations to the winners and thanks to all those who took the time to submit projects for consideration.”
The Willis Award for Innovation, awarded in recognition of Jack Willis for his contribution to CAMA, is presented for programs, projects or services that demonstrate exceptional innovation or meritorious initiative. Since Canada has a unique mixture of small and large communities, awards are granted according to population – for municipalities under 20,000, for those between 20,001 and 100,000 and for those over 100,000.
