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EPCOR Water Services

 
What is EPCOR Water Services Inc.?

  • EPCOR Water Services Inc. (EWSI) is a major subsidiary of EPCOR Utilities Inc. (EPCOR), which is 100% owned by the City of Edmonton. EPCOR has been providing water to the residents of the City of Edmonton for more than 100 years. 

 
Water Treatment and Distribution

  • Through its subsidiaries, EWSI owns seven and operates 17 other water treatment and distribution facilities in Alberta and British Columbia.
  • EWSI has an exclusive franchise within the City of Edmonton for the provision of water to a population base of more than 780,000 people, represented by more than 230,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers.
  • EWSI is allowed to recover its costs and earn a fair return on its investment within the City of Edmonton pursuant to the provisions of a performance based rates (PBR) bylaw. The PBR bylaw requires EWSI to meet detailed performance measures in the areas of customer service, the environment, water quality, system reliability and employee safety. 
  • Purified water is supplied to regions adjacent to the City of Edmonton which, in turn, is used in more than 60 surrounding communities and counties with an aggregate population in excess of 230,000 people.

 
Wastewater Treatment and Collection

  • Through its subsidiaries, EWSI now owns five and operates 19 wastewater treatment and collection facilities in Alberta and British Columbia, including Gold Bar.
  • Wastewater service customers include the District of Sooke, B.C., and many Alberta communities including Banff, Canmore, Wetaskiwin, Chestermere, Taber and Fort McMurray.

 
Water Treatment and Distribution Facilities

  • EWSI’s water treatment facilities in Edmonton encompass two state-of-the-art water treatment plants, Rossdale and E.L. Smith, and a distribution network with about 3,400 km of distribution and transmission mains, and approximately 17,000 hydrants and 54,000 valves. Its 12 reservoir sites have an aggregate capacity of about 807 million litres. 
  • At capacity and full production, Rossdale can produce 280 ML/day, while E.L. Smith can produce 400 ML/day.

 
Commercial Services

  • EWSI also earns income through competitive contract-based services. It provides water and wastewater services to commercial, industrial and municipal customers from its offices in Edmonton and White Rock, British Columbia.
  • In 2006, EPCOR completed the design, construction and financing of the Britannia Mine Wastewater Treatment Plant, and commenced a 20-year agreement with the Province of BC to treat acid rock drainage.
  • In November 2008, EPCOR completed the design and construction of both the water supply and wastewater facilities for the Whistler Olympic/Paralympic Park, and will operate both facilities through the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
  • A potable water and wastewater treatment facility, which EPCOR will design, build, own and operate, is under construction at Suncor’s Voyageur site in Fort McMurray, Alberta, with commissioning expected in the third quarter of 2011.

 
Gold Bar Wastewater Treatment Plant

  • Located alongside North Saskatchewan River in east Edmonton, the Gold Bar Wastewater Treatment Plant handles wastewater requirements for more than 780,000 people in the greater Edmonton area.
  • Current treatment capacity is 310 megalitres (ML)/day. In one year, the treatment volume at the plant is roughly 100,000 ML- enough to fill 37,000 Olympic-length swimming pools.

 
Gold Bar Wastewater Treatment Plant Transfer

  • In March 2009, the City of Edmonton transferred Gold Bar to EPCOR.
  • The City retains ownership of the Gold Bar plant through its 100% ownership of EPCOR.
  • City Council will regulate water and wastewater services and rates.
  • The Gold Bar plant becomes an asset of EPCOR Water Services Inc.