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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - More than a month after its expected completion date, the city's reservoir expansion will soon hold water.

Scot Gillard, assistant superintendent of water and sewers, said Monday the $3.4 million pumphouse expansion is in "the final stages."

Nahanni Construction has been working since October on the 25-by-25-metre extra reservoir cell, which will hold three million litres of water in addition to the main reservoir, which holds seven million litres.

Dennis Kefalas, engineering director of public works, said workers were filling the new reservoir cell Tuesday as a test to see if it will hold water. Kefalas said he expects the new cell to be in full use within the next couple of weeks.

"We're at capacity right now (for water)," Kefalas said. "This will allow us to grow (in population) for 10 to 15 years."

After that, the city will have to build another cell on to the reservoir.

Future stages of the expansion will potentially include the construction of a filtration treatment plant for city water.

Currently, Yellowknife's water is unfiltered and treated only with chlorine. Kefalas said the city will start designing the treatment plant this winter, with construction beginning in "future years."