SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - City council is being asked to consider borrowing up to $10 million next year for the construction of a new water treatment plant.

Pictured here in 2004, Catherine Mallet, an engineer formerly with the City of Yellowknife, shows off a water filtration pilot project in one of Yellowknife's pumphouses. - NNSL file photo

City administration made the proposal last week as part of its draft 10-year financial plan.

The project, which carries an estimated $18-20 million price tag, will bring Yellowknife up to national water filtration standards, said public works director Dennis Kefalas.

"It should be able to address any water conditions that we have faced in the past," said Kefalas.

"We're anticipating we'll hopefully never have to have another boil water advisory."

Kefalas said there is nothing currently wrong with Yellowknife's drinking water, which comes from the Yellowknife River. He said, in fact, "the quality of our water source is probably one of the best in the world ... it's perfectly safe, perfectly clean."

But the federal government will likely begin forcing communities to upgrade water treatment facilities within the next five years.

The Canadian Drinking Water Guidelines state that communities need to filter water for sediment if they draw it from a surface water body. Yellowknife tap water is only screened to keep out debris and fish and then chlorinated at Pumphouse No. 1 on 48 Street. Kefelas said if the city does not implement the system now, the federal government will force the city to do it "on a time-frame set out by them," which may not be convenient for the city when it does become mandatory.

"We're trying to be proactive and have it done on our schedule rather than someone else's schedule," said Kefalas.

Carl Bird also told council the city should borrow sooner rather than later while interest rates remain low.

City councillor David Wind said he was concerned about the city running itself into debt with the project.

"I'm very cautious, to the point of being prepared to oppose proceeding with this degree of speed, if we need to borrow money to do this," said Wind.

"I'm certainly not anxious to get into a debt situation that will perhaps cause us to have to borrow more and more."

Mayor Gord Van Tighem told Yellowknifer the option of borrowing money was presented last week only as information for the time being, and there is much more discussion to be had before a vote comes, if it reaches that point.

The water treatment plant will be built at the same location as Pumphouse No.1, and would use some parts from the old facility.

The new plant would employ a membrane system that will trap almost any small particle in the water, such as silt and sediment that may get washed up into the system.

"Essentially you're forcing water through almost a filter fabric," said Kefalas.

He said the new system will be able to expand and keep up with future growth in Yellowknife. The $2.2 million design contract for the new plant has been given to AECOM Canada, and the designs should be ready in the next year.

Kefalas said the request for tenders has not yet gone out for the first phase of construction.