The development of a water recycling distribution network is a further initiative to improve water quality in the North Saskatchewan River. The project would provide water for the Strathcona County Petro-Canada refinery using recycled water from the City of Edmonton’s Gold Bar wastewater treatment plant. By doing this, Petro-Canada could reuse five million litres of recycled water per day, avoiding the need to draw as much fresh water from the North Saskatchewan River.
This project, including the 7.5-kilometre pipeline, would be the first of its kind in Canada and sets a new standard for environmental “best practices.” This award-winning project meets Petro-Canada’s water needs for new processes and provides surplus water for other industrial users along the river valley. The public-private partnership between the City of Edmonton, Petro-Canada and Strathcona County cost approximately $25 million.