Smelly, discoloured tap water has become a norm for residents in Regina and Moose Jaw. According to officials at the Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Plant (BPWTP), it’s something that’s unlikely to chance in the foreseeable future.
It comes as upgrades to the plant continue.
“All major process conversions are in progress or have been completed,” said president and CEO Ryan Johnson. “A lot of the plant is operating in both a temporary state with old processes with the new and is not in the final configuration.”
The stench is most common during the summer as a result of blue-green algae blooms on Buffalo Pound Lake.
The organism is fully filtered out through treatment but the smell and change of colour sometimes remain.
Complaints of odour and colour were also made by residents when the BPWTP had to temporarily shut down its plant due to the construction in December.
Johnson told city executive committee Wednesday, the ongoing upgrades means a solution may not be available before the algae makes its return come the warmer months.
“There is some risk that ozone system will not be operating before our seasonal taste or sight bacteria blooms occur,” he explained. “The contractor has done everything they can to mitigate those risks.”
Upgrade updates
The BPWTP upgrades began in the summer of 2022.
Regina City Council first approved the $325 million project in 2021.
Some of the changes include infrastructure to add fluoride to drinking water.
Johnson was asked by councillors Wednesday about the system.
“The system’s been designed,” he said. “We will be tender ready probably in the summer with the intent of procuring and installing in January 2026.”
The plant’s full construction is expected to be completed in March 2026.
