Utilities - Water & Sewer

The Utilities department administers water and wastewater services to five hamlets, seven rural areas, one water co-op, and two First Nations. On October 15, 2019, Big Lakes County assumed ownership of the Kinuso Rural Water Co-op and on January 1, 2020, the County assumed ownership of the West End Water Co-op. 

The department has eight fulltime staff consisting of the: Utilities Manager, Utilities Coordinator, and 6 Utilities Operators. They’re responsible for:

• 1 Level 3 Water Treatment Plant,
• 3 Level 2 Water Treatment Plants,
• 3 Level 1 Water storage facilities,
• 5 Truck fill systems,
• 12 Level 1 distribution systems,
• 400+ kms of potable water service lines,
• 4 Level 1 Waste Water treatment lagoons,
• 9 Waste water lift stations, and
• 5 Level 1 Waste water collection systems.

Water Truckfill Information

Grouard - Debit cards, credit cards, or setting up an account are now the required methods to purchase water from this station
Faust  - Debit cards, credit cards, or setting up an account are now the required methods to purchase water from this station
Joussard  - Tokens, debit cards, credit cards, or setting up an account are now the required methods to purchase water from this station
Kinuso  - Tokens, debit cards, credit cards, or setting up an account are now the required methods to purchase water from this station
Enilda  - Tokens, quarters, loonies and toonies, or setting up an account are now the required methods to purchase water from this station.  

 Instructions for using a debit card at water truckfill stations

• Debit cards need to have “flash pay” activated (please see your bank if reader does not accept your debit card)
• Tap is not available
• Hold your card up to the reader until transaction is complete. Please note, you must hold your debit card to the screen until an approved message appears
• LED screen will advise when the transaction is complete

If you have tried all the above and are still having problems, please call the Utility Department on-call phone at 780-523-8691.

Customer is applying for hookups & there are no service connections to the lot

• Local improvement charges on the lot are not taken into consideration. (Off-site levies on newly sub-divided lots are considered to offset a portion of costs related to water/sewer infrastructure.)
• The customer is responsible for the actual costs of constructing service connections. The customer must pre-pay a $2500 deposit;
• The customer’s choice of contractor must be pre-approved by County staff;
• The service connections must be inspected by County staff upon completion;
• Upon approval of construction, the customer’s deposit will be refunded.

Customer is applying, and the property is not served by a water/sewer main

• The customer will have to assume costs required to install the water/sewer mains;
• The customer will have to pay to have the service connections installed;
• Contact the County Utility Department for further information;

Water Hookups Outside Of Hamlet Boundaries

Customer is connecting to County Main Lines

• $8,000
• The customer will have to assume costs required to install the water/sewer mains;
• The customer will have to pay to have the service connections installed;
• Contact the County Utility Department for further information

Customer is connecting to Water Co-op Lines

• The customer must apply to the appropriate water co-op;
• Co-ops will charge their standard hook-up fee;
• Co-ops will advise the County of the new customer.

 Water/Sewer Rates

These rates were approved by Bylaw 20-2018. 

Visit the Utilities Consumer Advocate website to compare electricity and gas prices in your area, visit historical rates, or get help resolving water and energy utility-related issues.