Clearwater County is waiting on the provincial government to see when it can proceed with construction of a wastewater treatment facility in Leslieville.

On June 28, 2022, administration for Clearwater County presented an item to council regarding the Clearwater County Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF).
Since then, County administration has met with Alberta Transportation (AT) to gather further information on the status of the Alberta Municipal Water Wastewater Partnership (AMWWP) grant.

Officials say, the AMWWP grant program funds eligible water and wastewater projects each year depending on budgets and needs, provincially. Officials add, under this program, water treatment facilities are the highest priority, with wastewater treatment considered the next priority.

Clearwater County applied for the AMWWP grant for the Regional Leslieville WWTF back in 2019. Officials note, however, the project is currently in the system and will remain with AT and continue to be reviewed and assessed each submission year, either until it receives an approval under the program, or not. Officials say, applications for funding are typically due at the end of November each year to receive funding the following year.

Alberta Transportation has advised municipalities they cannot start construction prior to approval without jeopardizing potential grant funding. Alberta Transportation said, the earliest the County would potentially receive funding is April or May of 2023.

A budget of $2,332,762 for engineering and construction was approved within the 2022 capital budget. A budget of $7,319,000 to complete engineering and construction for the remainder of the project, was approved within the 2023 capital budget, for a total budget of $9,651,762.

The 2022 approved budget includes $1,917,762 for construction of the project and is funded through restricted surplus. The 2023 budget, meanwhile, includes $7,119,000 for project construction and is also funded through restricted surplus.

Clearwater County applied for the Alberta Municipal Water/Wastewater Partnership (AMWWP) Grant in March 2022. To date, Clearwater County has not received notification if they have been successful or not in receiving the AMWWP Grant.

If Clearwater County is to proceed with the Regional Leslieville Wastewater Treatment Facility prior to receiving notification of being successful in obtaining the AMWWP Grant, administration was informed it will be difficult to receive the grant after construction of the project has begun. The AMWWP Grant can be up to 75 per cent of the costs for the treatment facility.