The Pritchard community water system is set to get a brand new filtration system.

Right now water is treated with chlorination, but since there is currently no filtration or additional treatment processes in place there are often water quality advisories and boil water notices issued.

TNRD Spokesperson Colton Davies says over the last three years, Pritchard was on either a water quality or boil water advisory for a total of 422 days, of which 202 were in 2022 alone. A new filtration plant will aim to all but eliminate those advisoreis.

“The biggest thing probably being that there is no filtration plant for the Pritchard community water system. It is our biggest community water system based on the number of customers on it and this is going to make a marked improvement. A very noticeable improvement for customers on that system. Once this. project is done.”

Davies says the project will be almost fully funded through grant money and only those on the system will see any tax impact. The contract cost is for construction only, and the total project budget is $6.15 million. In total, 98% of this project will be grant funded through the Investing Canada Infrastructure Grant program ($4.95 million) and the Growing Communities Fund ($1.05 million). The remaining $150,000 will be covered by the Pritchard Community Water System capital reserve.

“So none of our community water systems, out of our 11 have a water filtration system. They are all treated for chlorination, but there’s no larger filtration system. So this will be the first for our TNRD community water systems. Residents on the Prichard water system have been on a water quality advisory, or a boil water notice for a total of 422 days over the last three years.”

Davies says the project has an expected completion date of late 2025.

The TNRD owns and operates the Pritchard Community Water System located in Electoral Area “P” (Rivers and the Peaks) which has approximately 231 connections and serves an estimated population of 520 people.