Skip to content

Erskine to gain ‘safe, secure water supply’

Construction has begun on a pipeline to connect the hamlet of Erskine to the main water line

Construction has begun on a pipeline to connect the hamlet of Erskine to the main water line that runs from the Red Deer River treatment plant to Stettler.

“This is something I have been hoping for — for eight years,” said Erskine-Buffalo Lake councillor Joe Gendre.

“It’s an exciting time — Erskine will have a safe and secure water supply, plus fire protection.”

County of Stettler assistant chief administration officer Yvette Cassidy said the pipeline will run to Volker property the county acquired on the east side of Erskine, where a 500-cubic-metre reservoir and truck fill station will be constructed.

She said $320,000 from the Building Canada Fund has been secured to help cover the cost of the project and that other grants have been applied for.

Cassidy said the county plans to have the project completed by the end of the year.

She said the truck fill station will be “a good fire protection back-up for not only Erskine, but the Buffalo Lake communities, as well.”

Gendre pointed out the project comes at no additional cost to the Erskine residents — there will be no special tax levy or frontage fees.

With more than 400 residents, Erskine is the largest hamlet or village within the county, Cassidy said.

Erskine residents currently access their water supply from their own individual wells.

“Homes will be connected (to the Erskine reservoir) when they want to be — it will be ratepayer-driven,” Gendre said.

He’s optimistic about the growth of the hamlet, with the introduction of “the safe and secure water supply.”

When water is available, some of the Volker property, 15 acres the county acquired a couple of years ago, will be available for development, Gendre said.