Town Council was presented with a proposal from Aqua 7 Regional Water Commission, formerly Kneehill Water Commission, to modify an existing agreement so that Drumheller water would be distributed to the entirety of Rocky View County.
    The Town of Drumheller currently has an agreement where 2200 m³ of water is provided to the hamlet of Kathryn.
    Aqua 7 would have the water, plus an extra 5020 m³ per day, sent instead to a reservoir near Balzac where it could then be distributed to all of Rocky View County, including Cross Iron Mills.
    When Mayor Yemen was initially contacted in July, 2011, he was informed that the need for water in Rocky View was urgent.
    However, at a recent meeting at the end of August Rocky View County confirmed that they would not need Drumheller water for another five years, when growth in the region would increase demand.
    Colin Kloot, lawyer for the Town of Drumheller, spoke about the liability issues that could arise were Council to agree to the proposal. Were Drumheller water to become contaminated, and therefore contaminate the reservoirs in Rocky View County, due to negligence the Town could be liable for a great deal of money to commercial and industrial users who could claim loss of profits.
    Council did not make a decision regarding the proposal from Aqua 7. Members of Council requested that administration investigate issues such as liability, provincial statutes regarding water transmission to other counties, insurance increases, and if the cost to other users of Drumheller water would decrease.
    Council will discuss the proposal further at a future meeting.

    Downtown businesses will be getting a break from the water line improvement project that has been happening downtown during the summer and fall.
    The project aimed to replace the cast iron water lines with newer pipes.
    The chilly weather has put the plans to continue on hold. At the moment the work has progressed to Centre Street, by Gus’s Corner Restaurant and S&S News.
    “We’re doing some cleanup work and laying some concrete,” said Allan Kendrick, Director of Infrastructure for the Town of Drumheller. “We should be done by the end of the week.”
    Water services will return to normal, parking spaces will return, and the roads will no longer be blocked by construction.
    The news comes as a relief to business owners affected by the work, especially because Christmas is approaching. Many cited the construction as the primary reason for a drastic decrease in customers.
    “We had less sales, people couldn’t use the street, there was no parking, then they put construction right in front of the door,” said Narinder Tambar, owner of S&S News. “People didn’t know we were open.”
    “They did a good job, but it’s been taking too long,” said Shirley Briault, owner of SJ Fashions. “They should’ve started earlier.”
    “I’m glad it’s over, it affects the business,” said Abe Cagla at the Badlands Barbershop.
    Similar sentiments were expressed by most businesses. Some are worried that the disruption drove shoppers to other, more accessible stores.
    Work may be done for now, but things will continue in the spring.    The entire project is long term and is slated to take 10 to 11 years to complete.
    “We’ll be doing more in other back alleys in the downtown area,” said Kendrick. “There should be less of an inconvenience for businesses.