Potable Water

West Inter Lake District (WILD) Regional Water Services Commission

Wild was formed as a result of meetings that started some 6 or 7 years ago, by some municipalities in the Counties of Lac Ste. Anne and Parkland with those counties as there was significant concern about water quality, quantity and potability. As a result of those meetings a partnership of 16 municipalities has emerged to form this commission that has been approved by the Government of the Province of Alberta.

The member municipalities are ; County of Lac Ste. Anne, County of Parkland, the villages of Alberta Beach, Onoway and Wabamun, the Summer Villages of Castle Island, Lake View, Nakamun Park, Ross Haven, Sandy Beach, Seba Beach, Sunrise Beach, Sunset Point, Val Quentin, West Cove and Yellowstone.

A major driving force for the commission has been water quality in 2 of the villages that have water distribution services. Wabamun in part because of the railway spill into Lake Wabamun can no longer count on using water drawn from the lake to supply its residents let alone cope with their planned expansions. The Onoway situation is not much better as water is currently provided to the residents from wells that are reaching their limits and as we all know in both counties the quality and quantity of well water leaves a lot to be desired.

After many meetings and looking at options for a good water supply the commission is now working with the Capital Region Parkland Water Services Commission which would mean that high quality potable water can be made available to our region from water sourced from the E.L. Smith water plant situated in Edmonton.

The project is a multi-year primarily pipeline and truck fill  construction project and is expensive but believed to be manageable with the help of Government of Alberta grants and the provinces position on “Water for Life” strategies. Negotiations are ongoing with the appropriate government departments and the significant help of our Members of the Legislative Assembly: