(File photo/northeastNOW)

By Cam Lee

Water storage reservoir MOU

Melfort, SaskWater draft MOU to collaborate on replacement or rehab of aging reservoirs

Dec 2, 2025 | 10:36 AM

The City of Melfort has begun the process of addressing its future water storage needs.

The City and SaskWater have drafted a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to take a collaborative approach to the issue.

Director of Public Works Kalyna Cipywnyk said the MOU is a product of many discussions between the two parties about the future of the two water storage reservoirs by the water treatment plant.

“These discussions centred on the repair and upkeep of those assets and potential contribution of capital from both stakeholders,” Cipywnyk said.

According to Cipywnyk, a capital project for replacing the current reservoir structures has been on the city’s radar for the past number of years. The reservoirs date back to the 1950s and 1970s, and both have reached the end of their design life. Cipywnyk said the budget item was originally proposed for the budget in 2023 and has been carried over so more investigation could take place to fully understand and conceptualize the project.

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“The reservoirs remain functional and there is currently no impact to the City’s water distribution system, but these structures will eventually need replacement or upgrades to meet modern best practices,” Cipywnyk said.

The project is designed to ensure the longevity and reliability of Melfort’s water distribution system, Cipywnyk said, and to ensure the system has capacity to accommodate potential population growth. She said the project impacts Melfort and surrounding rural customers of SaskWater, and access to safe and reliable drinking water.

Having adequate water storage is necessary to ensure the city has enough treated supply to meet demand in case of an emergency such as a power outage or other natural disaster. Cipywnyk said it also aligns with best practices for water treatment purposes. The reservoirs are located southwest of the Melfort Water Treatment Plant.

Cipywnyk said the city’s MOU with SaskWater outlines a framework to jointly explore, design, and potentially construct new treated water storage infrastructure to replace the aging reservoirs.

“The MOU is not a binding construction contract but establishes the working relationship, responsibilities, and preliminary funding expectations needed to advance design and assessment work beginning in 2026.”

There are several design points that must be evaluated prior to any demolition or construction, including the use of new technology, how to safely decommission the current structures while minimizing impacts to the water distribution network, and whether the two reservoirs should be combined into one structure.

Cipywnyk said the plan is to begin construction within five years, depending on the level of design and engineering required. Should future grant funding opportunities arise, that timeline could change.

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cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com