Protecting Edmonton's Water Treatment Plants from Flooding

Partners in flood resilience

EPCOR is taking action to protect the water supply for Edmonton and more than 65 surrounding communities in the event of a major flood, while also partnering with local communities on flood resilience.

Find out how we engaged community members and Indigenous Nations.

Read what we heard

Over the next 30 years, climate change modelling predicts that extreme weather will be more frequent. For the North Saskatchewan River, this is expected to lead to higher flows in the winter and spring, with earlier or multiple spring runoff periods, and lower flows during the summer and fall.

Both of Edmonton’s water treatment plants — E.L. Smith and Rossdale — are situated in the North Saskatchewan River floodplain. We have a plan to protect Edmonton's drinking water in the event of a major flood by limiting potential damage to the facilities and ensuring we can resume water treatment as quickly as possible.

We also understand that community members are concerned about the potential impact of a major flood on local homes, businesses and essential services. EPCOR has programs in place to help mitigate the impacts of rainfall and river-related flooding in Edmonton neighbourhoods. And of course any plan that disturbs the ground or vegetation will consider the Indigenous heritage of our sites and how we will incorporate proper ceremony, mitigation of impact and restoration.

Did you know?

Together, the Rossdale and E.L. Smith Water Treatment Plants provide safe, clean drinking water to almost one third of Alberta's population. The plants serve more than 65 communities and counties around Edmonton.

What we are doing

By taking action now, we can manage the risk associated with flooding and ensure that customers continue to receive clean, safe and reliable drinking water service for years to come.

Protecting our Water Treatment Plants during a major flood event will include three kinds of work. This project is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Province of Alberta.

Increase protection to critical assets, or relocate them to higher ground within the water treatment plants.
Prevent river water from backing up into the plants through drainage pipes that discharge to the river.
Develop flood barriers to protect equipment and storage facilities that can’t be moved.

We expect to begin construction on the flood barriers in 2024. Although there are key decision points along the way, we will continue to engage with community members and Indigenous Nations throughout the project.

The considerations for flood barriers are different at each water treatment plant. Read on to learn more about plans at each plant.

Flood barriers at
Rossdale Water Treatment Plant

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Flood barriers at
E.L. Smith Water Treatment Plant

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Content here

Increasing protection to critical assets

All of this work will take place within our fence line and is currently underway. We expect to be finished in the fall of 2025.
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Preventing river water from backing up in our Water Treatment Plants
The planning for this work is currently underway and we expect to be complete by 2025.
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What we’ve heard during community & Indigenous engagement 
Since May 2021, we have conducted public and Indigenous engagement to understand how we can best integrate the required flood barriers into certain locations around the plants.
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Let's talk

Your questions, feedback and input are important to us. We want to hear from you so that we can design flood barriers to protect our Water Treatment Plants that integrate into your community as much as possible while being mindful of costs.

Contact us

Ph: (780) 412-3599

Email: waterprojects@epcor.com