Funding has been announced for the first phase of upgrades to the Lethbridge Water Treatment Plant. (Photo: City of Lethbridge)

By David Opinko

$9.2 million grant to move Lethbridge Water Treatment Plant upgrades forward

Aug 6, 2025 | 11:24 AM

A major infrastructure project in Lethbridge will soon get underway, thanks to a new provincial grant.

The Alberta Government will provide $9.2 million in funding for phase one of what the City of Lethbridge describes as “critical upgrades” to the Water Treatment Plant.

The first phase includes two major projects:

• A new high-capacity clarifier will back up older equipment.
• Electrical upgrades will swap out aging equipment and add extra power sources.

Mayor Blaine Hyggen says these initiatives will ensure that the plant can continue to operate smoothly, even during unexpected problems.

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“This investment is a major win for our community,” said Mayor Blaine Hyggen. “It protects our water, helps support future growth and meets the needs of residents, businesses and industry. And the best part – there’s no increase to residential water rates for this phase.”

The total cost of the project is estimated at $67.2 million and is part of the 2022 – 2031 Capital Improvement Program. That includes $42.3 million for the water clarifier and $24.9 million for the voltage upgrades.

According to the City, the upgrades are needed to support the continued growth in Lethbridge’s population and business sector.

Statistics Canada estimates that the population of Lethbridge was 111,400 as of July 1, 2024, which is the most recent count. It grew by nearly 13,000 from the 2021 census.

READ MORE: Lethbridge population estimated at 111,400 (2025 article)

READ MORE: Updated census counts for Southern Alberta, Lethbridge population reaches 98,406 (2022 article)

Nathan Neudorf, Lethbridge-East MLA and Minister of Affordability and Utilities, says, as Alberta’s population grows, we need strong infrastructure to keep up.

“This grant will help make sure Lethbridge, and the surrounding region, has the water it needs to support families, businesses and economic development for years to come,” says Neudorf.

The Water Treatment Plant serves more than 133,000 southern Albertans across 10 municipalities, with a capacity of 150 million litres per day.

On peak days, municipal officials say they exceed 90 per cent of the current design capacity.

Once the first phase of upgrades is completed, the Plant will be able to process up to 180 million litres of water daily. Future planned phases would boost capacity to 250 million litres per day.

Phase one of construction is scheduled to begin later this month and should be completed by December 2027.

The City of Lethbridge says it will continue to explore funding options to support future phases of expansion.