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Horse Lake First Nation opens $10 million water treatment plant

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Clean drinking water now flows at the Horse Lake First Nation after a new water treatment plant went on-line six weeks ago.

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An opening ceremony took place Wednesday morning. The event was attended by members of the First Nation, the project and the community who contributed to the facility’s development.

“When the water falls from the heaven, it comes down as a female spirit but when it gets down to the ground, it becomes a male spirit,” said Chief Ramona Horseman in a speech. “When you think about that, the water is a protector for us but yet we still have to protect our water as well.”

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“I look forward to the new things that are coming about but again, water is life and I’m so happy to be here today to celebrate this with my nation,” Horseman said.

Construction began on the Horse Lake Water Treatment Plant in the fall of 2015 and was completed in May 2018 for a total cost of $10-million. Of that, around $9.5 million was invested by Indigenous Services Canada to support construction and to ensure that the system met all Canadian drinking water quality guidelines.

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According to a federal press release, the original water system in Horse Lake was built in the 1980s and required a “significant overhaul.”

The new facility takes groundwater from three groundwater wells and runs it through greensand filters, which removes iron and manganese. The water is then run through a reverse osmosis system, reducing salt content, before receiving ultraviolet treatment and chlorination. M2 Engineering was the consulting engineer and Alpha Construction Inc. acted as the general contractor on the project.

The exterior of the new water treatment plant at Horse Lake First Nation.
The exterior of the new water treatment plant at Horse Lake First Nation. Photo by Peter Shokeir/Daily Herald-Tribune

The 2016 federal budget provided $1.80-billion to improve water and wastewater infrastructure, support the training of water-system operators and ensure proper facility operation and maintenance. The budget also included $141.7-million over five years for drinking water monitoring and testing on reserve.

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“I offer my sincere congratulations to Chief Ramona Horseman and all the members of Horse Lake First Nation in Treaty 8 Territory on the opening of their new water treatment system,” said Federal Minister of Indigenous Services Jane Philpott in a press release Wednesday.

The 2018 budget also commits $172.6-million over the next three years to address water infrastructure in First Nation communities.

“Our government remains committed to working in partnership with First Nations to ensure that everyone in Canada has access to clean, reliable drinking water,” Philpott added.

Horse Lake First Nation is located 75 kilometres northwest of Grande Prairie and has 1,224 members with around 494 living on-reserve. The First Nation is party to Treaty 8 and it is a member of the Western Cree Tribal Council (WCTC).

-With files from Peter Shokeir and Maureen McEwan

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