Regina and Moose Jaw Tap Water Safe Despite Unusual Taste and Odour: Improvements Underway

Many citizens in Regina and Moose Jaw are noticing that their tap water has an unusual taste and odour but it is safe to drink and meets all regulatory drinking water requirements.

Buffalo Pound Lake is the source water for Regina’s and Moose Jaw’s drinking water and is currently experiencing its usual annual algae bloom which is causing the high levels of taste and odours. The plant is currently using powdered activated carbon in its process to decrease the intensity of taste and odour but it does have limited effectiveness. The construction team, programmers, and plant staff are working diligently to get the new and complex deep bed carbon filter system in service within the next month. When the carbon filters are commissioned and put on-line, the taste and odour will no longer occur.

The BPWTP is currently undergoing a $325M renewal and construction will be completed in early 2026. The renewal includes additional process improvements in addition to the deep bed carbon filters that will provide taste and odour removal year-round. The BPWTC asks that the citizens of Regina and Moose Jaw be patient as the new processes will soon provide year-round removal of taste and odours from their drinking water.

$4 Million Solar Power Project Unveiled at Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Plant

The Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Corporation (BPWTC) along with the Cities of Regina and Moose Jaw, today unveiled a $4 Million Solar Power project at the Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Plant! The project will power the plant’s administration building, enabling the reduction of the Plant’s energy consumption by approximately 10%. Click here to read more

Patricia Warsaba, K.C was elected as the incoming Chair of the BPWTC Board of Directors, at the 2024 AGM, replacing Dale Schoffer who has served as the BPWTC Board Chair since 2018.

Patricia has been a member of the BPWTC board since 2020. She has a wealth of knowledge, board experience and expertise. She retired as a lawyer and partner with McKercher LLP in 2023. In 2011, Patricia was recognized as a Woman of Influence in Saskatchewan for her contributions as a professional in her community. She is the Honorary Consul by the Embassy of Iceland in Regina, with jurisdiction over the Province of Saskatchewan, and received the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal in 2022.

We want to thank Dale Schoffer for his skillful leadership of the BPWTC Board of Directors over the past eight years. His guidance and insight through the pandemic and into plant renewal have positioned the corporation well for the future. We are fortunate that Dale will be continuing with the BPWTC board as a director.

Update - Bloom of Cyanobacteria

Buffalo Pound Lake is experiencing a severe bloom of cyanobacteria which periodically overwhelms the water treatment plants granular activate carbon (GAC) system from removing all the odour and taste produced by these organisms. This occurs most often during hot weather when flows through the treatment plant are highest. In addition, the plant no longer has spare GAC filter capacity on standby. The spare GAC units are currently being refurbished as part of the plant renewal project. Plant staff, regularly monitor the intensity of taste and odour leaving the facility and have powdered activated carbon available to use when an operational odour threshold has been met. Despite the algae like or musty taste and odour that some citizens may notice on occasion, drinking water leaving the Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Plant is safe to consume and meets all regulatory requirements.

Please note: Updated and year round taste and odour removal processes are scheduled to be put into service in September 2024.