Minnedosa Water Treatment Plant No. 2 Upgrade

There are many things a community needs to thrive - business, industry, agriculture, infrastructure, innovation and of course, the people behind it all. When all of these factors come together, it can only mean success. And to see this success in action, you don't need to look any farther than the Town of Minnedosa.

The Town has nearly finished upgrading Water Treatment Plant No. 2, which includes an expanded reservoir, an improved iron and manganese removal system and a UV disinfection system. The upgrades mean cleaner water and an increased capacity to meet the needs of the growing town.

"We need to finish up some seasonal things," said Frank Taylor, the Town's Utilities Superintendent. "There are small issues with manganese levels. We're meeting standards, but we want to pick things up a bit," explained Taylor.

Funded by the governments of Canada, Manitoba and The Town of Minnedosa through the Canada-Manitoba Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund, the project also received some funding from Husky Energy, whose newly expanded ethanol production plant will benefit from the upgrades.

"Husky is very important to the town," said Ken Jenkins, CAO of Minnedosa. "With the new plant, it increases employment, increases the tax base and it's helping the local farmers. The new plant gives the town a guarantee that Husky isn't going anywhere."

"It gives the town a huge boost," added Jenkins.

Husky Energy has been a part of the Town for more than 25 years, making ethanol at their production centre from locally grown wheat. Husky expanded their plant in 2007 to increase their ethanol output. The new plant means Husky will be able to pump out 130 million litres of ethanol annually to help meet the provincially mandated goal for ethanol blended gasoline. To produce the ethanol, the plant needs water and wheat.

Like most of rural Manitoba, agriculture plays a large role to the community's economy. But with the Husky plant, that role is even more important.

"If the plant doesn't get the grain, it doesn't go anywhere, and the plant gives the farmers a market," said Jenkins. "It's definitely a benefit for all parties," he added.