To help visualize what the new East Coulee water fill station will look like, the Town of Drumheller has released concept drawings of the final product.
At the entrance to East Coulee the concept drawings show a new loop road, with the fill station in the center. Surrounding the road, the concept drawings propose the planting of new trees and bushes.
Since construction on the line began in October, several East Coulee residents have raised concerns, through Letters to the Editor in The Drumheller Mail and inSide Drumheller, over the scale and placement of the new fill station.
Mayor Terry Yemen feels the project will help those in East Coulee who don’t have access to high quality water. Most of the funding for the East Coulee Transmission Line, 90 per cent, was provided by the provincial government.
“I’ve heard from quite a few people who fully support the program,” said Yemen. “The project is from the Water for Life grant, and it’ll be there for future generations. Some people need it right now, because they have terrible water, while others don’t have that problem.”
One of the main concerns raised by East Coulee residents is that semi trucks driving on Highway 10 will use the station to fill up with water, thereby creating noise and traffic problems in the small community.
“There is one in Rosedale. When I lived on the Wayne road, I hauled water during the big oil patch boom and never had to wait in line at the fill station, so I don’t see that happening in East Coulee,” said Yemen.
Construction of the new water line and the fill station will be completed over the winter.
“With the trees and bushes, I think it will look pretty good when it’s done,” said Yemen.
The concept plan of the new East Coulee water fill station. A loop road will be constructed at the entrance to East Coulee, with the fill station at the centre and surrounded by freshly planted trees. East Coulee residents have raised concerns over the scale and location of the fill station, citing noise and traffic problems that could result from large trucks using the station.
