(Cochrane, AB) – Cochrane Council has approved a capital budget of up to $31.9 million to upgrade the Town’s existing Water Treatment Plant, supporting reliable water service and Cochrane’s continued growth.
The existing Water Treatment Plant is approaching its operational capacity during periods of peak demand. The proposed upgrade will increase treatment and pumping capacity while improving the reliability, redundancy and resilience of the existing facility.
“As Cochrane continues to grow, we need to ensure our water infrastructure can continue to reliably serve the community,” said Adam Sullo, Executive Director, Engineering and Planning. “These upgrades will increase the capacity of our existing Water Treatment Plant, strengthen the reliability of the system and help ensure we can meet Cochrane’s needs as we continue planning for our long-term water supply.”
The upgrades includes improvements to water intake and pumping systems, treatment processes, electrical infrastructure, chemical storage, residuals management and membrane treatment capacity.
The project is estimated to cost $31.9 million. Approximately 79 per cent of the cost is related to supporting future growth and will be financed through borrowing, with those costs recovered over time through Off-Site Levies collected from new development. The remaining costs will be funded through grants and Town reserves.
When a municipality uses debt to finance a capital project, the Municipal Government Act requires Council to authorize that borrowing through a borrowing bylaw. The bylaw establishes the authority for the Town to borrow the funds and is subject to a legislated process that includes public notice before it can receive final approval.
Council gave first reading to Borrowing Bylaw 14/2026 at the September 21 Council meeting and endorsed an application to the Alberta Municipal Water/Wastewater Partnership grant program to pursue additional provincial funding. The Borrowing Bylaw will come back to Council for consideration of Second and Third Reading following the legislated advertising and petition process.
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Media contact:
Town of Cochrane
communications@cochrane.ca
403-851-2503