Island Lake Regional Waterline Project

Summary

The Island Lake Regional Waterline Project is bringing reliable, safe drinking water to residents west of the Town of Athabasca, including Summer Villages and areas of Athabasca County, who currently do not have direct access to a potable water system. Today, many homes rely on private wells or truck-hauling water from Athabasca or Colinton. This project will deliver a long-term, sustainable solution by constructing approximately 21 kilometres of new pipeline connected to the Aspen Regional Water Treatment Plant. The system will also include a booster station and a new public truck, tote, and bottle fill station near the intersection of Highway 2 and Township Road 670, which provides access to the Summer Village of Whispering Hills.

Homes and businesses located along the pipeline route may choose to connect directly to the regional system through a low-pressure “trickle” service. Those who take advantage of this connection will require a cistern or other storage tank on their property and will be responsible for pressurizing the water for use in their home or business.

Overall, the project will greatly improve access to clean drinking water in the area, supporting local growth, health, and long-term community resilience.

Future updates to this project will be made on this page.

Objectives

To provide safe, secure and reliable drinking water to the region west of the Town of Athabasca to support the existing and future water needs of the residents of the County and Summer Villages.

Project benefits include:

A reliable and sustainable supply of clean water for the communities
Reduce risk of water shortages
A water system that is resilient against potential challenges changes in the aquifer, climate changes and resource scarcity
A convenient and efficient water fill station that can provide both commercial/agricultural and residential needs in the area

Island Lake Regional Waterline Feasibility Study completed and accepted.
The County has secured Water for Life Grant funding for the project.
The alignment for the regional waterline has been set, and we are progressing towards land acquisition and finalizing the preliminary design.
Geotechnical field investigation is currently out for Request for Proposal.
Environment field investigation is currently underway for the pipeline alignment.
Preliminary Design work is underway and expected be completed by end of 2025.

Project timeline will be added soon.

Alignment Option for the project.

Additional photos of the ongoing project will be added as the project progresses.