Ponoka wastewater treatment plant upgrades facing delays

PONOKA -- Ponoka's planned upgrades to its Wastewater Treatment Plant have been delayed until next year. 

In a statement provided to 89.7 The One, the township confirmed that the delay is the result of their recent grant funding request being rejected by the provincial government. This would have gone towards funding a portion of the first phase of the major project, which was originally slated to get underway this year. Ponoka staff note that should they fail to secure provincial funding next year, the start of the project could be pushed back once again.

The major project, which is expected to take place in three phases over the course of ten years, aims to help the township maintain its system for its growing population and meet new provincial regulations. Included in phase one will be a new operations building for screening and grit removal, a new lift station, new tie-ins, replacing existing pipes as required, and overflow management using repurposed lagoon cells.

Phase two of the project, which is tentatively scheduled to begin in 2031, will consist of mechanical treatment upgrades. The final phase is estimated to begin in 2035 and will involve tertiary treatment improvements at the facility.

Earlier this year, the Town of Ponoka adopted a new borrowing bylaw to partially fund the construction of the first phase of the required upgrades. However, it's now confirmed that the project won't be able to break ground until provincial funding is secured. In their rejection letter, the province had blamed a "highly competitive" intake process for 2026 as the reason for the rejection, but encouraged Ponoka to try again next year.