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.
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
| Hamlet Residents & Others on County Lines, Southside, Heart River, High Prairie East, Big Meadow, Kinuso Rural, Kapawe’no First Nation, Northwest, West End, North End, & Riverbend | $5.45/cubic meter |
| Keylock Customers | $5.45/cubic meter |
| Token Operations | $6.50/300 gallons |
| Two Month Minimum Charge for County Customers | 10 cubic meters |
| Service Charge for independant Co-ops | $5.50 per month |
| Service Charge for Keylocks | $5.50 per month |
| Sewer Rates | 50% of water consumption |
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.