Red Deer County

EPCOR operates and maintains the water, wastewater and storm water systems of five communities in Red Deer County: Benalto, Spruce View, Gasoline Alley, Lousana and Springbrook. The county owns the infrastructure, sets the rates and bills customers, while EPCOR reads the meters. 

Services provided 

• Water and wastewater: 
  • Water distribution 
  • Water treatment
  • Wastewater treatment 
  • Wastewater and stormwater collection 
• Electricity retail: 
  • Competitive power through Encor by EPCOR
  • Regulated power
  • Meter reading, billing and customer care for customers who choose one of the above options 
• Competitive natural gas plans through Encor by EPCOR

About the systems 

Benalto’s water treatment plant draws from two nearby wells. It uses chlorine disinfection and its usual average flow is 160 cubic meters per day. The community’s wastewater collection is a gravity-flow system with no pumps and treatment in a lagoon. 

Gasoline Alley’s water system serves roughly 700 customers with two treated water storage reservoirs/pump stations with the water being supplied by the City of Red Deer. Its sanitary sewer system flows into the South Red Deer Regional Wastewater Commission system. 

Lousana’s gravity-fed wastewater collection system flows into a treatment lagoon with a capacity of roughly 21,000 cubic meters. A local water co-op operates Lousana’s drinking water system. 

Springbrook’s water treatment plant is fed by two wells and uses chlorine disinfection. It sends treated water from two reservoirs totaling 3,500 m³ of storage, to serve a population of approximately 1,100. Its sanitary sewer system uses three lift stations, all of which pump into the South Red Deer Regional Wastewater Commission system. 

Spruce View’s water treatment plan is fed by two wells and uses chlorine disinfection and greensand filters to remove iron and manganese. Its wastewater system uses one lift station to move wastewater into a lagoon for treatment.

Junction 42 is a new commercial/industrial development located at the intersection of Highways 2 and 42 just east of Penhold. It has a water treatment plant supplied by the same wells as Springbrook and uses chlorine disinfection. The gravity sewer collection system flows to one lift station that pumps into the South Red Deer Regional Wastewater Commission system.

Figures of note 

• 2,400: Approximate population served across all five communities 
• 275 fire hydrants
• 800 water system valves
• 55 km water mains
• 475 sanitary sewer manholes
• 40 km gravity sewer mains
• 330 storm sewer catch basins
• 350 storm sewer manholes
• 30 km storm sewer mains

Operating model 

EPCOR operates and maintains this infrastructure for Red Deer County under an Operations & Maintenance model with a 10-year term with 2 – 5 year renewal options. The original 10-year term is due to expire in 2024, but has been renewed for another 5 years.