29-05-2025
Regina, Moose Jaw residents asked to conserve water due to treatment plant ‘issue'
The Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Plant is seen in this image captured from file footage.
The cities of Regina and Moose Jaw are asking residents to conserve water as much as possible effective immediately.
The ask comes after the Buffalo Pound Water Treatment plant advised the cities of a 'short term reduction in the supply of water to its customers, due to an issue with the plant.'
The plant says it expects to have the issue resolved by the end of the weekend (June 1).
According to a social media post from Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Plant, the issue is the result of commissioning work underway on the renewed water treatment plant project.
City officials in Regina and Moose Jaw are advising residents to conserve water by:
• Turning off taps as much as possible during personal grooming activities.
• Showering instead of bathing, if possible.
• Running the washing machine and dishwasher only when full.
• Refrain from watering grass/landscaping as much as possible.
• Eliminating the filling of hot tubs, pools, and ponds.
• Delaying washing vehicles until the conservation request has been lifted.
In a news release, the City of Regina said it will maintain water service levels as much as possible by utilizing its emergency water wells - which provide safe drinking water, that may come with discoloration.
The city added that over the coming days it will not continue to fill outdoor pools, will shutoff spray pads and will not water parks with city water, as well as refrain from washing city vehicles except when required for health and safety measures. Street sweepers will also not operate.
The City of Moose Jaw said it will not fill the Phylis Dewar Outdoor Pool and all paddling pools and will also shutoff spray parks and stop washing city equipment and vehicles when possible. Street sweeping operations will also stop until the issue is resolved.
The renewal project began in 2022 and includes upgrading the main treatment plant, treatment processes and treatment technologies along with modernizing the facility with needed redundancy, Buffalo Pound said in the post.
The post added that the Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Plant was last upgraded 30 years ago and has now reached the end of its useful life.
'Water treatment plants typically require a major refurbishing every 25 to 30 years. The Plant Renewal Project is expected to be completed and fully operational by mid 2026,' the post reads.
